Targeting drugs to tumours using cell membrane-coated nanoparticles

Summary

This review examines cell-membrane-coated nanoparticles as carriers for more selective cancer therapy. Conventional chemotherapy often damages healthy tissue because drug distribution is not confined to malignancy. CNPs address that problem by wrapping a synthetic nanoscale core in membrane obtained from a natural cell. Depending on the source, the coating can transfer several functions at once, including compatibility with biological environments, reduced immune recognition, and affinity for tumors. This differs from conventional surface modification, which often installs individual ligands through separate chemical steps. The authors trace the history and development of the platform and then survey its use in cancer drug delivery, light-based therapy, and immunotherapy. The review’s principal synthesis is that membrane camouflage provides a streamlined way to construct multifunctional, multiantigenic carriers capable of operating in complex in vivo settings. Its significance lies in connecting a versatile fabrication strategy with several major treatment modalities rather than one payload alone. The abstract notes that translation is under way but that key needs remain. It does not specify review methods, rank membrane sources, quantify therapeutic advantage, or resolve scale-up, quality control, immunogenicity, safety, and clinical validation.