Leukocyte-derived biomimetic nanoparticulate drug delivery systems for cancer therapy

• Main Authors: Yukun Huang, Xiaoling Gao, Jun Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2018-01-01
• Series: Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
• Subjects: Leukocytes; Tumor; Biomimetic carrier; Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems; Nanotherapeutics; Cancer therapy
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383517303702

Precise drug delivery to tumors with low system toxicity is one of the most important and challenging tasks for pharmaceutical researchers. Despite progress in the field of nanotherapeutics, the use of artificially synthesized nanocarriers still faces several challenges, including rapid clearance from blood circulation and limited capability of overcoming multiple physiological barriers, which hamper the clinical application of nanoparticle-based therapies. Since leukocytes (including monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells and lymphocytes) target tumors and can migrate across physiological barriers, leukocytes are increasing utilized as carriers to transfer nanoparticles to tumors. In this review we specifically focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of leukocytes that can be exploited as a vehicle to deliver nanoparticles to tumors and summarize the latest research on how leukocytes can be harnessed to improve therapeutic end-points. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities of this leukocyte-derived nanoparticle drug delivery system.