Taking inspiration from nature, the biomimetic concept has been integrated into drug delivery systems in cancer therapy. Disguised with cell membranes, the nanoparticles can acquire various functions of natural cells. The cell membrane-coating technology has pushed the limits of common nano-systems (fast elimination in circulation) to more effectively navigate within the body. Moreover, because of the various functional molecules on the surface, cell membrane-based nanoparticles (CMBNPs) are capable of interacting with the complex biological microenvironment of the tumor. Various sources of cell membranes have been explored to camouflage CMBNPs and different tumor-targeting strategies have been developed to enhance the anti-tumor drug delivery therapy. In this review article we highlight the most recent advances in CMBNP-based cancer targeting systems and address the challenges and opportunities in this field.

The effective drug treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is hindered by poor delivery efficiency to the diseased site and the serious side effects caused by wide-spread drug distribution. Traditional drug-targeting strategies, such as ligand modification, are complex, laborious, and inefficient. Inspired by the intrinsic relationship between platelets and RA, platelet-mimetic nanoparticles (PNPs) were developed for targeted drug delivery in RA. Through platelet receptor-mediated adhesion, an intact platelet membrane was coated onto poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles, endowing the resulting PNPs with various functional receptors. By coating with platelet membranes, the nanoparticles were stabilized and had a better circulation profile, providing a benefit for passive targeting. In vitro binding of PNPs to inflamed endothelium, and in vivo accumulation in joints of a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model of RA were significantly improved via P-selectin and GVPI recognition, indicating that the PNPs could effectively target to RA tissues through multiple mechanisms, similar to natural platelets. Moreover, FK506, a model drug, was loaded into the PNPs and used to treat RA. Pharmacodynamic studies demonstrated that the FK506-PNPs had a notable anti-arthritic effect in CIA mice. This study provides a new biomimetic targeting strategy with great potential for the treatment of RA. Open image in new window