Novel bioengineering strategies for drug delivery systems

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Cellular membrane-derived vesicles (CMVs) are emerging as drug delivery systems (DDS) due to their nanoscale size, biocompatibility, and targeting capabilities.
• Current limitations of CMVs include low yield, instability, and challenges in surface functionalization, hindering their clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate three novel strategies for overcoming the limitations of CMVs in drug delivery applications.
• To enhance the production, stability, and functionalization of CMVs for improved therapeutic efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Development of hybrid vesicles by combining CMVs with synthetic liposomes (SLs) to improve yield and stability.
• Engineering of core/shell nanostructures with synthetic nanoparticles as cores and cell membrane shells for enhanced stability.
• Creation of CMV/scaffold complexes for sustained release of CMVs and therapeutic agents.

Main Results:

• Hybrid vesicles demonstrated increased production yield and stability, facilitating the integration of targeting ligands and imaging agents.
• Core/shell nanostructures preserved the inherent capabilities of nanoparticles while enhancing stability.
• CMV/scaffold complexes enabled sustained release, prolonging the bioavailability of therapeutic agents in vivo.

Conclusions:

• The proposed strategies, including hybrid vesicles and core/shell nanostructures, effectively address the limitations of CMVs.
• Combination strategies, such as hybrid vesicle-coated nanoparticles or hybrid vesicle/scaffold complexes, represent promising advancements for next-generation drug delivery systems.