Cell-based drug delivery for combating bacteria: focus on refractory infections

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Infectious Diseases
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance and biofilm infections pose significant threats to public health, challenging conventional treatments.
• Current antimicrobial agents exhibit limitations such as toxicity, poor tissue penetration, and rapid development of multidrug resistance (MDR).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review cell-based drug delivery systems (CDDS) as a promising strategy against refractory infections.
• To elaborate on CDDS platforms derived from various cell types and their mechanisms in anti-infective drug delivery.
• To critically assess the translational progress and future potential of CDDS in combating challenging infections.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of literature on CDDS for anti-infective applications.
• Analysis of CDDS platforms engineered from erythrocytes, immune cells, platelets, and stem cells.
• Evaluation of preclinical data demonstrating enhanced therapeutic efficacy of CDDS.

Main Results:

• CDDS leverage innate cellular functions like prolonged circulation, immune evasion, and active targeting to enhance drug delivery.
• Preclinical models show improved efficacy of CDDS against refractory infections, including those caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria and biofilms.
• Diverse cell types, including erythrocytes, immune cells, platelets, and stem cells, can be engineered into effective CDDS.

Conclusions:

• CDDS represent a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome the limitations of conventional anti-infective therapies.
• Further translational research is crucial to realize the full potential of CDDS in clinical settings for combating resistant infections.
• Cell-based approaches offer a viable path forward against the escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance and biofilm-associated pathogens.