Biological Cells as Therapeutic Delivery Vehicles

One of the significant challenges remaining in the field of drug delivery is insufficient targeting of diseased tissues or cells. While efforts to perform targeted drug delivery by engineered nanoparticles have shown some success, there are underlying targeting, toxicity, and immunogenicity challenges. By contrast, live cells usually have innate targeting mechanisms, and can be used as drug-delivery vehicles to increase the efficiency with which a drug accumulates to act on the intended tissue. In some cases, when no native cell types exhibit the desired therapeutic phenotype, preferred outcomes can be achieved by genetically modifying and reprogramming cells with gene circuits. This review highlights recent advances in the use of cells to deliver therapeutics. Specifically, we discuss how red blood cells (RBCs), platelets, neutrophils, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and bacteria have been utilized to advance drug delivery.

Automated summary

Live cells have innate targeting mechanisms and can be used as drug-delivery vehicles to increase drug accumulation efficiency. In cases where native cell types do not exhibit the desired therapeutic phenotype, preferred outcomes can be achieved by genetically modifying and reprogramming cells. Recent advances in using cells like red blood cells, platelets, neutrophils, mesenchymal stem cells, and bacteria for drug delivery have been highlighted in this review.