The review explores the chemical tools and strategies to synthesize bioactive, DNA-based biomaterials. The focus is on the applications of DNA as a generic and not a genetic polymer in biomedical, environmental, and electrochemical fields.

Exploring new avenues for clinical management of chronic wounds holds the key to eliminate socioeconomic burdens and health-related concerns associated with this silent killer. Engineered biomaterials offer great promise to...

Considerable progress has been made in synthesizing "intelligent", biodegradable hydrogels that undergo rapid changes in physicochemical properties once exposed to external stimuli. These advantageous properties of stimulus-triggered materials make them highly appealing to diverse biomedical applications. Of late, research on the incorporation of light-triggered nanoparticles (NPs) into polymeric hydrogel networks has gained momentum due to their ability to remotely tune hydrogel properties using facile, contact-free approaches, such as adjustment of wavelength and intensity of light source. These multi-functional NPs, in combination with tissue-mimicking hydrogels, are increasingly being used for on-demand drug release, preparing diagnostic kits, and fabricating smart scaffolds. Here, the authors discuss the atomic behavior of different NPs in the presence of light, and critically review the mechanisms by which NPs convert light stimuli into heat energy. Then, they explain how these NPs impact the mechanical properties and rheological behavior of NPs-impregnated hydrogels. Understanding the rheological behavior of nanocomposite hydrogels using different sophisticated strategies, including computer-assisted machine learning, is critical for designing the next generation of drug delivery systems. Next, they highlight the salient strategies that have been used to apply light-induced nanocomposites for diverse biomedical applications and provide an outlook for the further improvement of these NPs-driven light-responsive hydrogels.

Current nanostructured biomaterials-based drug delivery vehicles for bone regeneration applications often show suboptimal cellular uptake and inferior drug loading. To overcome these challenges, we have developed a biomimetic cell-derived nanoparticle (CDN) loaded with the Food and Drug Administration-approved small-molecule therapeutic Dexamethasone, to induce osteogenic differentiation in human adipose-derived stem cells. The drug-loaded CDNs were cytocompatible, maintained hydrodynamic stability with uniform spherical shape and size, and exhibited high-percentage drug loading along with rapid cellular uptake and stem cell differentiation. These results demonstrate for the first time the preparation of Dexamethasone-loaded CDNs capable of directing stem cell fate for advanced bone regeneration applications.

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Hydrogels, prepared from natural polymers, are attractive biomaterials for diverse biomedical applications due to their excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity. However, the majority of conventional hydrogels are mechanically weak and unsuitable...

Vaccines have been used to train the immune system to recognize pathogens, and prevent and treat diseases, such as cancer, for decades. However, there are continuing challenges in their manufacturing, large-scale production, and storage. Some of them also show suboptimal immunogenicity, requiring additional adjuvants and booster doses. As an alternate vaccination strategy, a new class of biomimetic materials with unique functionalities has emerged in recent years. Here, we explore the current bioengineering techniques that make use of hydrogels, modified polymers, cell membranes, self-assembled proteins, virus-like particles (VLPs), and nucleic acids to deliver and develop biomaterial-based vaccines. We also review design principles and key regulatory issues associated with their development. Finally, we critically assess their limitations, explore approaches to overcome these limitations, and discuss potential future applications for clinical translation. Vaccines and their limitationsSeveral prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines (see Glossary) are successfully used to protect humans against numerous infectious pathogens and diseases, and to prevent their spread among communities worldwide. According to the WHO, more than 70% of children were given shots of routinely administered vaccines (Box 1) globally in 2019 i . Efforts are continuously being made to develop new vaccines for emerging and established pathogens and diseases, the current Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic being a good example. The area of therapeutic vaccine development, particularly for cancer therapy, is also being widely studied [1]. With an increasing demand for high-quality vaccines, there is a need to investigate innovative and novel approaches that are superior to conventional methods (Box 1). Polymer-based nanoparticles (NPs) and nanostructured materials could aid these efforts owing to their favorable characteristics and widespread success in other fields [1][2][3][4]. These NPs can be used to address the current limitations of traditional vaccines, such as low immunogenicity, safety issues, and need for booster doses [5][6][7][8][9]. Here, we discuss different approaches used to elevate the efficacy of vaccines for multiple applications using the principles of engineering (Figure 1, key figure). Engineered biological and biomaterial vaccinesThe engineering of diverse biomaterials, organisms, and biological molecules can yield improved vaccines and vaccine delivery vehicles that overcome several, if not all, of the current limitations and challenges in the field of vaccine development [10]. The following are six approaches using polymeric hydrogels, biologically modified polymers, cell membranes, self-assembled proteins, VLPs, and nucleic acids that have been applied to advance the efficacy and competence of vaccines. The first three approaches make use of the properties of the materials to enhance the delivery of the encapsulated antigens, and the latter three exploit the properties of the biological molecules to develop superior a...