Harnessing nature's blueprint: Unlocking the potential of subcellular structure membrane-coated nanosystems for precision medicine.

Abstract

In the intricate tapestry of life, subcellular structures stand out as the fundamental building blocks that orchestrate the complexities of cellular function. Collectively, they govern the course of events at the subcellular level and cooperate to maintain cellular physiological functions and homeostasis and they are present in all eukaryotic cells, from the unicellular organisms to the more complex ones. Herein, we aim to explore the cutting-edge, bioinspired brunch of nanotechnology focused on the fabrication of biomimetic nanoparticles consisting of a synthetic core coated with the natural membranes deriving from membrane-bound subcellular organelles. Beyond the well-grounded biomedical evidence on the use of membranes derived from cells, exosomes and bacteria, recent insights have unlocked the potential of the nanosystems mimicking the subcellular intricacy for subcellular-oriented medicine. Despite the recent promising results, several challenges remain in the translation of this technology to the clinical settings. The current lack of standardization, challenging industrial scale-up, immunological concerns, as well as demanding regulatory considerations still remains aspects to be analyzed and discussed, in order to fill the current gap between the research and the clinical application.