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Updated: Oct 18, 2025
Cell Squeezing as a Robust, Microfluidic Intracellular Delivery Platform
Published on: November 7, 2013
Design and Optimization of the Circulatory Cell-Driven Drug Delivery Platform
Pengyu Gao1, Dan Zou1, Ansha Zhao1
1Key Laboratory for Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Material Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China.
Abstract:
Achievement of high targeting efficiency for a drug delivery system remains a challenge of tumor diagnoses and nonsurgery therapies. Although nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have made great progress in extending circulation time, improving durability, and controlling drug release, the targeting efficiency remains low. And the development is limited to reducing side effects since overall survival rates are mostly unchanged. Therefore, great efforts have been made to explore cell-driven drug delivery systems in the tumor area. Cells, particularly those in the blood circulatory system, meet most of the demands that the nanoparticle-based delivery systems do not. These cells possess extended circulation times and innate chemomigration ability and can activate an immune response that exerts therapeutic effects. However, new challenges have emerged, such as payloads, cell function change, cargo leakage, and in situ release. Generally, employing cells from the blood circulatory system as cargo carriers has achieved great benefits and paved the way for tumor diagnosis and therapy. This review specifically covers (a) the properties of red blood cells, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, T lymphocytes, and mesenchymal stem cells; (b) the loading strategies to balance cargo amounts and cell function balance; (c) the cascade strategies to improve cell-driven targeting delivery efficiency; and (d) the features and applications of cell membranes, artificial cells, and extracellular vesicles in cancer treatment.
Insights
Cell-based drug delivery systems offer improved tumor targeting and therapeutic effects compared to nanoparticles. This review explores various cell types and strategies for enhanced cancer treatment and diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Nanoparticle drug delivery systems show limitations in tumor targeting efficiency, despite advancements in circulation time and drug release.
- Current nanoparticle systems primarily focus on reducing side effects, with minimal impact on overall survival rates for cancer patients.
- Cell-driven drug delivery systems are emerging as a promising alternative to overcome the limitations of nanoparticle-based approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the properties of various blood cells (red blood cells, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, NK cells, T lymphocytes, mesenchymal stem cells) for drug delivery.
- To discuss loading strategies for balancing cargo capacity and cell function in cell-driven systems.
- To explore cascade strategies and novel carriers like cell membranes, artificial cells, and extracellular vesicles for improved cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of cell-based drug delivery systems for tumor targeting.
- Analysis of different cell types, their properties, and suitability as drug carriers.
- Evaluation of loading strategies, targeting enhancement techniques, and alternative delivery vehicles.
Main Results:
- Blood cells possess inherent advantages like extended circulation and chemomigration ability for tumor targeting.
- Challenges in cell-driven delivery include payload capacity, maintaining cell function, cargo leakage, and controlled release.
- Cell membranes, artificial cells, and extracellular vesicles show potential as advanced carriers for cancer treatment.
Conclusions:
- Cell-driven systems offer significant benefits for tumor diagnosis and therapy, overcoming nanoparticle limitations.
- Optimizing cargo loading and preserving cell function are critical for effective cell-based drug delivery.
- Further research into advanced carriers and strategies can enhance the efficacy of cell-driven cancer therapies.
