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Funding This work was supported by grants from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (SFRH/BD/148771/2019, 2021.05914.BD, PTDC/BTM-MAT/4738/2020), and also from the European Research Council—ERC Starting Grant (848325). A bio-inspired strategy has recently been developed for camouflaging nanocarriers with biomembranes, such as natural cell membranes or subcellular structure-derived membranes. This strategy endows cloaked nanomaterials with improved interfacial properties, superior cell targeting, immune evasion potential, and prolonged duration of systemic circulation. Here, we summarize recent advances in the production and application of exosomal membrane-coated nanomaterials. The structure, properties, and manner in which exosomes communicate with cells are first reviewed. This is followed by a discussion of the types of exosomes and their fabrication methods. We then discuss the applications of biomimetic exosomes and membrane-cloaked nanocarriers in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, imaging, and the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we appraise the current challenges associated with the clinical translation of biomimetic exosomal membrane-surface-engineered nanovehicles and evaluate the future of this technology. publishersversion published

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the grants 2021.05914.BD (given to D.P.) and PTDC/BTM-MAT/4738/2020 project (given to A.C.P.-S., J.C., and F.V.) from Fundacão para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT). J.C. acknowledges the European Research Council Starting Grant (ERC-StG-2019-848325). Bio-mimicking principles have recently been proposed for the surface functionalization of nanoparticles (NPs). Such a strategy is based on camouflaging the NP surface with functional biomembranes to render superior biocompatibility, interfacial features, immune evasion, and active targeting properties to nanomaterials. In this area of research, cell membranes derived from a plethora of highly optimized cells, such as red blood cells, immune cells, platelets, stem cells, cancer cells, and others, have been the pioneers as coating materials. This biomimetic concept has then been applied to subcellular structures, namely extracellular vesicles and intracellular organelles. Exosomes are a nanosized extracellular vesicle subtype secreted by most cells. These phospholipid bilayer nanovesicles are surface enriched with proteins accounting for their dynamic and prominent roles in immune escape, cell-cell communication, and specific cell uptake. Their intrinsic stability, biocompatibility, reduced immunogenicity and toxicity, and specific cell-targeting features denote an optimal biological nanocarrier for biomedical applications. This review highlights the current clinical applications of exosome membrane-coated nanosystems in cancer diagnosis and therapy. These biomimetic nanosystems have emerged as a promising avenue to provide effective, highly specific, and safer cancer-targeted applications. Finally, challenges hindering their clinical application will be mentioned. publishersversion published

Funding: The authors acknowledge the financial support from the grants SFRH/ BD/148771/2019 (given to M.P.-S.) and 2021.05914.BD (given to D.P.), and PTDC/BTM-MAT/4738/2020 project (given to A.C.S. and J.C. (and also F.V., and M.P.-S.)) from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT). Open access funding provided by Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia within the CRUI-CARE Agreement Biomimetic approaches utilize natural cell membrane-derived nanovesicles to camouflage nanoparticles to circumvent some limitations of nanoscale materials. This emergent cell membrane-coating technology is inspired by naturally occurring intercellular interactions, to efficiently guide nanostructures to the desired locations, thereby increasing both therapeutic efficacy and safety. In addition, the intrinsic biocompatibility of cell membranes allows the crossing of biological barriers and avoids elimination by the immune system. This results in enhanced blood circulation time and lower toxicity in vivo. Macrophages are the major phagocytic cells of the innate immune system. They are equipped with a complex repertoire of surface receptors, enabling them to respond to biological signals, and to exhibit a natural tropism to inflammatory sites and tumorous tissues. Macrophage cell membrane-functionalized nanosystems are designed to combine the advantages of both macrophages and nanomaterials, improving the ability of those nanosystems to reach target sites. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of these biomimetic nanosystems for targeted delivery of drugs and imaging agents to tumors, inflammatory, and infected sites. The present review covers the preparation and biomedical applications of macrophage cell membrane-coated nanosystems. Challenges and future perspectives in the development of these membrane-coated nanosystems are addressed. publishersversion published

This is the unformatted version of the accepted review paper manuscript "Bioinspired microneedle patches: Biomimetic designs, fabrication, and biomedical applications" published on Matter, 5(2): 390 (2022), by P. Makvandi*†, A. Maleki†, M. Shabani†, A.R.J. Hutton, M. Kirkby, R. Jamaledin, T. Fang, J. He, J. Lee, B. Mazzolai, R.F. Donnelly, F.R. Tay, G. Chen*, V. Mattoli*. &nbsp

3D and 4D printing are cutting-edge technologies for precise and expedited manufacturing of objects ranging from plastic to metal. Recent advances in 3D and 4D printing technologies in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery enable dentists to custom design and print surgical drill guides, temporary and permanent crowns and bridges, orthodontic appliances and orthotics, implants, mouthguards for drug delivery. In the present review, different 3D printing technologies available for use in dentistry are highlighted together with a critique on the materials available for printing. Recent reports of the application of these printed platformed are highlighted to enable readers appreciate the progress in 3D/4D printing in dentistry., Comment: 61 pages, 21 figures, Review Paper

Microneedle (MN) patches consisting of miniature needles have emerged as a promising tool to perforate the stratum corneum and translocate biomolecules into the dermis in a minimally invasive manner. Stimuli-responsive MN patches represent emerging drug delivery systems that release cargos on-demand as a response to internal or external triggers. In this review, a variety of stimuli-responsive MN patches for controlled drug release are introduced, covering the mechanisms of action toward different indications. Future opportunities and challenges with respect to clinical translation are also discussed.

The growing demand for patient-compliance therapies in recent years has led to the development of transdermal drug delivery, which possesses several advantages compared with conventional methods. Delivering protein through the skin by transdermal patches is extremely difficult due to the presence of the stratum corneum which restricts the application to lipophilic drugs with relatively low molecular weight. To overcome these limitations, microneedle (MN) patches, consisting of micro/miniature-sized needles, are a promising tool to perforate the stratum corneum and to release drugs and proteins into the dermis following a non-invasive route. This review investigates the fabrication methods, protein delivery, and translational considerations for the industrial scaling-up of polymeric MNs for dermal protein delivery.

This study is aimed at the synthesis of antimicrobial hydroxyapatite (HAP)‐based composites for dental application by stereolithography (SLA). A micron‐sized commercial HAP was modified by methacrylate and quaternary ammonium salt, and, then, it was used in different amounts (namely 2.5, 5, and 10 wt%) as filler for a photocurable custom made resin for SLA. Thermal stability, microstructure, and particles size of the pristine (HAP) and modified HAP (mHAP) were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and particle size analyser (CILAS). The suitability of each formulation for stereolithography process was assessed by measuring viscosity, degree of conversion (DC%) by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), glass transition temperature, and thermal stability. Photo‐cured specimens for physical, mechanical, and antimicrobial testing were built by SLA. The flexural strength of the samples was measured using a 3‐point bending test method, and the fractured surface was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antimicrobial activity of samples was investigated against some standard microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans), as representative Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and fungus, respectively. The flexural strength increased with a filler content up to 5% and slightly decreased for higher content. SEM analysis confirmed the presence of uniformly distributed HAP. The incorporation of mHAP reduced the bacterial and fungal growth in dose‐dependent manner in comparison with the neat samples. Finally, a prototype of dental bite was built by SLA.