Delivery of TCM Monomers Using Blood Cell Membrane Coated Biomimetic Nanoparticles to Target CVD

Cell membrane-coated nanoparticles are receiving increasing recognition for their potential in treating cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This novel drug delivery system, featuring drug-loaded nanoparticles modified by naturally derived cell membranes, is capable of precisely targeting diseased sites, improving drug bioavailability, evading immune surveillance, and prolonging half-life. These targeted and protective behaviors are driven by the preservation of functional surface proteins on the cell membrane, such as CD47 for inhibiting macrophage phagocytosis and specific integrins for targeting disease sites. More importantly, by translating inherent multi-target bioactivities into localized therapeutic outcomes, this biomimetic nanotechnology can significantly improve the drug delivery of TCM monomers, whose therapeutic effects on the treatment of CVD have been widely recognized. However, their clinical translations have historically been restricted by low bioavailability and unfavorable pharmacokinetics. Therefore, this review underscores recent developments in cell membrane-coated nanocarriers for treating CVD. It then highlights the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers delivered via cell membrane-coated nanoparticles in atherosclerosis, thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke. Finally, this work discusses the challenges for clinical translation of these biomimetic nanocarriers by highlighting the technical complexities of source cell collection, membrane extraction efficiency, and large-scale manufacturing standardization that currently block clinical translation.