Advancements in Colloidosome Fabrication, Functionalization, and Applications: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Abstract: Among the recent developments in the field of microcapsules, colloidosomes microcapsules made of colloidal particles have elicited much interest in promising perspectives in microencapsulation technologies. First reported by Dinsmore et al., these structures hold a lot of potential in different areas of application, which include gene delivery, targeting the brain, and tumor treatment. However, the challenges associated with their permeability and stability limit the use of these coatings. Nevertheless, these problems define colloidosomes as possessing some features of protocells that include metabolic activities and response to stimuli, which make them significant in synthetic biology and biomimetic systems. In drug delivery, colloidosomes have the potential of providing solubility, stability, and a controlled rate of drug release, which will have an impact on the therapeutic use of drugs. Fabrication of colloidosomes is done in many ways, and the common ones include the mulsion strategy, layer adsorption, and microfluidics strategy. Some of these fabrication techniques have been investigated in the recent past to determine how their application can lead to enhanced colloidosome characteristics. Some of these methods include spray drying, sol-gel processes, and electrostatic assembly. For example, the study by Payizila Zulipiker et al. showed that different levels of permeability are controllable through the use of spray drying technology. Another study by Jia Jia et al. presented the preparation of pH-responsive colloidosomes and the high efficiency of encapsulation. Consequently, improvements in the manufacturing process and new self-assembly technologies that include microfluidics systems have also improved the creation of colloidosomes. New advancements in the field of colloidosome synthesis, as well as their surface modification, will open up numerous application prospects in the fields of pharmaceutics, regenerative medicine, and bioinspired materials science. New trends range from 3D printing to stimuli-responsive materials and design, as well as hybrid systems that are application- specific. Despite the difficulties that remain to be faced, colloidosomes represent an extraordinary opportunity for the growth of biotechnology and materials science to open the path to new generations of drugs and bioinspired applications.