Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2025
Monitoring of Nanodrug Accumulation in Murine Breast Cancer Metastases
Published on: August 23, 2024
Immune cell membrane-based biomimetic nanomedicine for treating cancer metastasis
Lingling Zhu1, Xianzhe Yu2, Ting Cao3
1Lung Cancer Center/Lung Cancer Institute, West China Hospital & West China School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
Abstract:
Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Despite extensive treatment, the prognosis for patients with metastatic cancer remains poor. In addition to conventional surgical resection, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy, various nanobiomaterials have attracted attention for their enhanced antitumor performance and low off-target effects. However, nanomedicines exhibit certain limitations in clinical applications, such as rapid clearance from the body, low biological stability, and poor targeting ability. Biomimetic methods utilize the natural biomembrane to mimic or hybridize nanoparticles and circumvent some of these limitations. Considering the involvement of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment of the metastatic cascade, biomimetic methods using immune cell membranes have been proposed with unique tumor-homing ability and high biocompatibility. In this review, we explore the impact of immune cells on various processes of tumor metastasis. Furthermore, we summarize the synthesis and applications of immune cell membrane-based nanocarriers increasing therapeutic efficacy against cancer metastases via immune evasion, prolonged circulation, enhanced tumor accumulation, and immunosuppression of the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, we describe the prospects and existing challenges in clinical translation.
Insights
Biomimetic nanomedicines using immune cell membranes show promise for treating cancer metastasis by improving drug delivery and overcoming limitations of current therapies. These advanced nanocarriers enhance tumor targeting and therapeutic effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanomedicine
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Cancer metastasis is a primary cause of cancer mortality, with limited treatment options for patients.
- Nanomedicines offer potential for enhanced antitumor activity and reduced side effects but face challenges like rapid clearance and poor targeting.
- Biomimetic strategies, particularly using immune cell membranes, can overcome nanomedicine limitations by leveraging natural biological properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of immune cells in cancer metastasis.
- To explore the synthesis and applications of immune cell membrane-based nanocarriers for cancer metastasis treatment.
- To discuss the potential and challenges of translating these nanocarriers into clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on immune cell involvement in metastasis.
- Analysis of biomimetic strategies utilizing immune cell membranes for nanocarrier development.
- Evaluation of nanocarrier properties including immune evasion, circulation time, tumor accumulation, and immunosuppression.
Main Results:
- Immune cells play a critical role in the metastatic cascade within the tumor microenvironment.
- Immune cell membrane-based nanocarriers demonstrate improved tumor homing, prolonged circulation, and enhanced accumulation at metastatic sites.
- These nanocarriers can modulate the tumor microenvironment to promote therapeutic efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Immune cell membrane-based nanocarriers represent a promising strategy to enhance cancer metastasis treatment.
- These biomimetic systems offer advantages in overcoming nanomedicine limitations and improving therapeutic outcomes.
- Further research and clinical translation are needed to realize the full potential of these advanced nanotherapeutics.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...