Cell-drug conjugates: a novel drug delivery system for cancer therapy

Cell-drug conjugates (CDCs) represent an advanced drug delivery platform that combines living cells with therapeutics, leveraging the biological properties of cells to achieve precise targeting. By conjugating drugs onto cell surfaces, CDCs preserve cell viability and achieve functional collaborative therapy between the therapeutics and living cells. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics of drugs can be improved by leveraging many inherent functions of cells. This review systematically introduces the construction of CDCs as drug delivery systems, including carrier cells, coupling components, and conjugation strategies. The advantages of CDCs as drug delivery systems and the applications of CDCs in the treatment of cancers are highlighted in this paper. Additionally, clinical trials involving CDCs for cancer therapy are analyzed. Finally, the challenges and future directions of CDCs are discussed, with the expectation that their functions will be further explored. It is hoped that this discussion will inspire researchers in their design efforts and ultimately facilitate clinical translation.