Erythrocyte‐Inspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Erythrocytes are the most abundant cells in the blood. As the results of long‐term natural selection, their specific biconcave discoid morphology and cellular composition are responsible for gaining excellent biological performance. Inspired by the intrinsic features of erythrocytes, various artificial biomaterials emerge and find broad prospects in biomedical applications such as therapeutic delivery, bioimaging, and tissue engineering. Here, a comprehensive review from the fabrication to the applications of erythrocyte‐inspired functional materials is given. After summarizing the biomaterials mimicking the biological functions of erythrocytes, the synthesis strategies of particles with erythrocyte‐inspired morphologies are presented. The emphasis is on practical biomedical applications of these bioinspired functional materials. The perspectives for the future possibilities of the advanced erythrocyte‐inspired biomaterials are also discussed. It is hoped that the summary of existing studies can inspire researchers to develop novel biomaterials; thus, accelerating the progress of these biomaterials toward clinical biomedical applications.

Artificial cells for in vivo biomedical applications through red blood cell biomimicry

“…4 ). More examples of RBC mimics can be found in review 50 , however, little in vivo applications have been reported to date.

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Engineering Synthetic Erythrocytes as Next‐Generation Blood Substitutes

“…[15] Fulfilling their multiple roles in blood, these cells circulate for ≈120 days before natural removal due to biological aging. [16] Erythrocytes are enucleated, biconcave-shaped cells, with a diameter range of 7.5 to 8.7 μm and thickness range of 1.7 to 2.2 μm (Figure 1A). [17] Their shape is determined by a lipid-rich cell membrane containing phospholipids and cholesterol, alternated with membrane proteins such as glycophorins, Na 2+ and K + -dependent adenosine triphosphatases, band 3 anion (Cl − and HCO 3 -) transporter proteins, ankyrin, and others.…”

Preparation of Hirudin-Loaded Chitosan/Polycaprolactone Bowl-Shaped Particles and an Application for a Drug Delivery System

“…As a result of long-term natural selection, their unique biconcave disc-like morphology and cellular composition have enabled them to acquire excellent biological properties. Researchers have produced a variety of nanoparticles that mimic erythrocytes, which have been widely used in biomedical fields such as drug delivery, bioimaging, and tissue engineering [19].…”