Safe and Immunocompatible Nanocarriers Cloaked in RBC Membranes for Drug Delivery to Treat Solid Tumors

Theranostics. 2016 Apr 28;6(7):1004-11. doi: 10.7150/thno.14471. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

The therapeutic potential of nanoparticle-based drug carriers depends largely on their ability to evade the host immune system while delivering their cargo safely to the site of action. Of particular interest are simple strategies for the functionalization of nanoparticle surfaces that are both inherently safe and can also bestow immunoevasive properties, allowing for extended blood circulation times. Here, we evaluated a recently reported cell membrane-coated nanoparticle platform as a drug delivery vehicle for the treatment of a murine model of lymphoma. These biomimetic nanoparticles, consisting of a biodegradable polymeric material cloaked with natural red blood cell membrane, were shown to efficiently deliver a model chemotherapeutic, doxorubicin, to solid tumor sites for significantly increased tumor growth inhibition compared with conventional free drug treatment. Importantly, the nanoparticles also showed excellent immunocompatibility as well as an advantageous safety profile compared with the free drug, making them attractive for potential translation. This study demonstrates the promise of using a biomembrane-coating approach as the basis for the design of functional, safe, and immunocompatible nanocarriers for cancer drug delivery.

Keywords: biomimetic nanoparticle; drug delivery; immunocompatible nanocarrier; lymphoma treatment.; nanomedicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage*
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / metabolism*
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / chemistry*
  • Heterografts
  • Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Lymphoma / pathology
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nanostructures*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Doxorubicin