Liquid marbles (LM) are freestanding droplets covered by micro/nanoparticles with hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties, which can be manipulated as a soft solid. The phenomenon that generates these soft structures is regarded as a different method to generate a superhydrophobic behavior in the liquid/solid interface without modifying the surface. Several applications for the LM have been reported in very different fields, however the developments for biomedical applications are very recent. At first, the LM properties are reviewed, namely shell structure, LM shape, evaporation, floatability and robustness. The different strategies for LM manipulation are also described, which make use of magnetic, electrostatic and gravitational forces, ultraviolet and infrared radiation, and approaches that induce LM self‐propulsion. Then, very distinctive applications for LM in the biomedical field are presented, namely for diagnostic assays, cell culture, drug screening and cryopreservation of mammalian cells. Finally, a critical outlook about the unexplored potential of LM for biomedical applications is presented, suggesting possible advances on this emergent scientific area.

中文翻译：

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液体大理石在生物医学应用中的潜力：一项重要的评论。

液态大理石（LM）是被具有疏水性/亲水性的微米/纳米颗粒覆盖的独立液滴，可以将其作为软固体进行处理。产生这些软结构的现象被认为是在不改变表面的情况下在液体/固体界面中产生超疏水行为的另一种方法。在非常不同的领域中已经报道了LM的几种应用，但是生物医学应用的发展是最近的。首先，回顾了LM的性能，即壳的结构，LM的形状，蒸发，漂浮性和坚固性。还介绍了LM操作的不同策略，这些策略利用了磁力，静电力和重力，紫外线和红外线辐射以及诱发LM自推进的方法。然后，提出了LM在生物医学领域中非常独特的应用，即用于哺乳动物细胞的诊断测定，细胞培养，药物筛选和冷冻保存。最后，提出了关于LM在生物医学应用中尚未开发的潜力的批判性展望，表明该新兴科学领域的可能进展。