Multilayer Capsules Inside Biological Systems: State-of-the-Art and Open Challenges.

Abstract

There are many reports about the interaction of multilayer capsules with biological systems in the literature. A majority of them are devoted to the in vitro study with two-dimensional cell cultures. Multilayer capsule fabrication had been under intensive investigation from 1990s and 2000s by Prof. Helmuth Möhwald, and many of his followers further developed their own research directions, focusing on capsule implementation in various fields of biology and medicine. The aim of this future article is to consistently consider the most recent advances in cell-capsule interactions for different biomedical applications, including functionalization of clinically relevant cells, nonviral gene delivery, magnetization of cells to control their movement, and in vivo drug delivery. Finally, the description and discussion of the new trends and perspectives for improved functionalities of capsules in design and functionalization of cell-assisted drug vehicles are the major topics of this work.