Biomimetic Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems

Biomimetic nanoparticle drug delivery systems are an emerging class of nanomedicines that harness the intrinsic properties of biological membranes or cellular components to enhance delivery performance. By integrating synthetic cores—such as polymeric, lipid or inorganic nanoparticles—with coatings derived from red blood cells, immune cells or tumour cells, these platforms achieve prolonged circulation, immune evasion and targeted accumulation in pathological sites. Functionalisation strategies include insertion of specific ligands, genetic modification of source membranes and incorporation of stimuli-responsive moieties for controlled release. Applications span oncology, immunotherapy and inflammatory diseases, where modulation of the tumour microenvironment, selective immune activation and minimisation of off-target toxicity are paramount. This biomimetic approach offers a versatile and modular paradigm for addressing long-standing challenges in nanomedicine, paving the way towards precision therapies with improved safety profiles.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have advanced understanding of membrane-based nanosystems in immunoengineering and cellular targeting. One investigation introduced hybrid cell membrane nanovesicles displaying high-affinity variants of signal regulatory protein α, which simultaneously block ‘don’t eat me’ signals and repolarise macrophages from a tumour-promoting to a tumour-suppressing phenotype. Loading of a stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist within these vesicles further potentiated antitumour immunity in poorly immunogenic models. Another research effort developed cytomembrane-supported nanoparticles derived from fused dendritic and cancer cells, mimicking both antigen-presenting cells and tumour antigens to elicit robust T-cell activation. Foundational work on coating integrity has revealed that even partially cloaked nanoparticles retain cell-targeting capabilities and enter cells via distinct pathways determined by coating density, informing the rational design of next-generation biomimetic carriers.

Biomimetic Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in biomimetic nanoparticle drug delivery systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Biomimetic nanoparticle: A synthetic nanocarrier cloaked or functionalised with biological components to emulate cell behaviours.

Cell membrane coating: A layer of natural cellular membrane applied to nanoparticle surfaces to confer immune evasion and targeting.

Tumour microenvironment: The cellular and molecular milieu surrounding a tumour, influencing growth and therapy response.

Immune checkpoint receptor: A surface protein that modulates immune cell activation by binding inhibitory or stimulatory ligands.

STING agonist: A compound that activates the stimulator of interferon genes pathway to provoke innate immune responses.

References

1. Engineered biological nanoparticles as nanotherapeutics for tumor immunomodulation. Chemical Society Reviews (2024).
2. Autologous patient-derived exhausted nano T-cells exploit tumor immune evasion to engage an effective cancer therapy. Molecular Cancer (2024).
3. Innovative utilization of cell membrane‐coated nanoparticles in precision cancer therapy. Exploration (2024).
4. Hybrid cellular membrane nanovesicles amplify macrophage immune responses against cancer recurrence and metastasis. Nature Communications (2020).
5. Cytomembrane nanovaccines show therapeutic effects by mimicking tumor cells and antigen presenting cells. Nature Communications (2019).
6. Cell membrane coating integrity affects the internalization mechanism of biomimetic nanoparticles. Nature Communications (2021).