SPION based nanoformulations: bio-inspired design and functionalization strategies for applications in medicine

Abstract

Biomedical applications in medicine are an area of research studied in great breadth, covering the various potential applications. Mimicking natural processes promises to be a successful strategy for several reasons. For example, physiological structures can generate drug delivery platforms that are better tolerated by the immune system. Furthermore, physiological movement patterns in flagella or contracting motions, which originate from unicellular organisms, are imi-tated. Further examples are stimuli-responsive tissue structures that serve the regeneration of bone material by stimulating pre-osteoblasts to proliferate. The examples of bioinspired SPIONs discussed in this review span the fields of drug delivery, imaging/diagnostics, nano/micromotion, and tissue engineering. All these concepts need to be evaluated regarding their technical feasibility and translatability into the clinic. Therefore, this text concludes with a general consideration for clinically proving such developments.