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Creators/Authors contains: "Qian, Fang"

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  1. Abstract

    Aerogels are highly porous structures produced by replacing the liquid solvent of a gel with air without causing a collapse in the solid network. Unlike conventional fabrication methods, additive manufacturing (AM) has been applied to fabricate 3D aerogels with customized geometries specific to their applications, designed pore morphologies, multimaterial structures, etc. To date, three major AM technologies (extrusion, inkjet, and stereolithography) followed by a drying process have been proposed to additively manufacture 3D functional aerogels. 3D‐printed aerogels and porous scaffolds showed great promise for a variety of applications, including tissue engineering, electrochemical energy storage, controlled drug delivery, sensing, and soft robotics. In this review, the details of steps included in the AM of aerogels and porous scaffolds are discussed, and a general frame is provided for AM of those. Then, the different postprinting processes are addressed to achieve the porosity (after drying); and mechanical strength, functionality, or both (after postdrying thermal or chemical treatments) are provided. Furthermore, the applications of the 3D‐printed aerogels/porous scaffolds made from a variety of materials are also highlighted. The review is concluded with the current challenges and an outlook for the next generation of 3D‐printed aerogels and porous scaffolds.

     
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  2. Abstract

    Cell membrane coating nanotechnology, which endows nanoparticles with unique properties, displays excellent translational potential in cancer diagnosis and therapy. However, the preparation and evaluation of these cell membrane‐coated nanoparticles are based on cell lines and cell‐line‐based xenograft mouse models. The feasibility of cell membrane‐camouflaged nanomaterials is tested in a preclinical setting. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patient‐derived tumor cell (PDTC) membranes are coated onto gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) and the resulting PDTC@GNPs show efficient targeting to homotypic tumor cells and tissues in patient‐derived xenograft (PDX) models. When the donor‐derived cell membrane of PDTC@GNPs matched those of the host cells, significant targeting capability is observed. In contrast, mismatch between the donor and host results in weak targeting. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that autologous separation and administration of cellular membranes and anticancer cisplatin (Pt)‐loaded PDTC@GNPs, respectively, lead to almost complete tumor ablation in a subcutaneous model and effectively inhibit tumor recurrence in a postsurgery model. The work presented here reinforces the translation of these biomimetic nanoparticles for clinical applications and offers a simple, safe, and effective strategy for personalized cancer treatment.

     
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