Recent Advances and Future Prospects in Biological-Membrane-Targeted Polymers

Membrane structures play a crucial role in biological systems, not only serving as a barrier between cells/organelles and the external microenvironment but also playing key roles in important biological processes such as material exchange, signal transduction, and cell proliferation. With the advancement of related research, membrane-targeting strategies have gradually been a focus in modern cancer therapy and antimicrobial studies. Polymer materials show great promise in membrane-targeted therapy due to their excellent biocompatibility, tunability, and functionalization potential. Presented in this review are design strategies for polymer materials targeting cell and organelle membranes. Initially, we introduce the functions and characteristics of tumor cell membranes, organelle membranes, and bacterial cell walls, whose unique physicochemical properties offer potential pathways for targeted therapy. Next, we focus on various strategies for designing polymer materials with membrane targeting features. For instance, by adjusting the charge density and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of polymer chains, cationic polymers (e.g., polyethylenimine and polyamidoamine dendrimers) can leverage electrostatic interactions to disrupt the integrity of the cell membrane, leading to pore formation or structural disruption, which facilitates efficient cytosolic delivery. Thirdly, functionalized polymers can specifically recognize target membranes, thereby reducing side effects. Studies have demonstrated that modified polymers not only facilitate targeted delivery to specific organs but also enhance cellular uptake efficiency by up to 10 times. Finally, we discuss existing challenges and future directions of polymer materials for membrane-targeted therapeutics, aiming to provide insight for advancing membrane-targeted polymers and improving existing treatment strategies for more precise disease management.