# Fabrication and Functional Modification Strategies of Squid Ink-Derived Nanoparticles: From Natural Melanin to Multifunctional Biomaterials

## TL;DR

This paper reviews methods to create and modify squid ink nanoparticles, highlighting their potential as biocompatible materials for biomedical applications.

## Contribution

The paper offers a comprehensive review of fabrication and functionalization strategies for squid ink-derived nanoparticles, emphasizing their physicochemical and biological modulation.

## Key findings

- Common extraction methods for squid ink nanoparticles include centrifugation, ultrasonication, and dialysis.
- Surface modification techniques like polymer coating and metallic element incorporation enhance nanoparticle functionality.
- Challenges such as reproducibility and scalability need addressing for biomedical standardization.

## Abstract

Squid ink has recently garnered considerable attention as a natural melanin source for the development of biocompatible nanomaterials. Although numerous studies have explored the biological and therapeutic applications of squid ink, the fabrication and modification strategies for squid ink-derived nanoparticles (SINPs) have yet to be comprehensively reviewed. This paper provides an integrated overview of current extraction, purification, and functionalization strategies for SINPs, with a particular focus on how functionalization approaches modulate their physicochemical characteristics and biological behaviors. The review begins by outlining the natural mechanisms of melanin formation and summarizing common extraction methods—including centrifugation, ultrasonication, and dialysis. Subsequently, various surface modification and hybridization techniques—including polymer coating, incorporation of metallic elements (e.g., Se and Fe), and loading of photosensitizers—are compared in terms of their contributions to functional enhancement. Finally, the challenges of reproducibility, batch-to-batch variability, and scalable manufacturing are discussed, outlining future directions for the development of squid ink-derived nanomaterials into standardized biomedical platforms.