Cell Membrane-Based Biomimetic Nanoparticles and the Immune System: Immunomodulatory Interactions to Therapeutic Applications

Abstract

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have been synthesized from a wide array of materials. The therapeutic success of these platforms hinges upon their ability to favorably interact with the biological environment (both systemically and locally) and recognize the diseased target tissue. The immune system, composed of a highly coordinated organization of cells trained to recognize foreign bodies, represents a key mediator of these interactions. Although components of this system may act as a barrier to nanoparticle (NP) delivery, the immune system can also be exploited to target and trigger signaling cues that facilitate the therapeutic response stemming from systemic administration of NPs. The nano-bio interface represents the key facilitator of this communication exchange, where the surface properties of NPs govern their in vivo fate. Cell membrane-based biomimetic nanoparticles have emerged as one approach to achieve targeted drug delivery by actively engaging and communicating with the biological milieu. In this review, we will highlight the relationship between these biomimetic nanoparticles and the immune system, emphasizing the role of tuning the nano-bio interface in the immunomodulation of diseases. We will also discuss the therapeutic applications of this approach with biomimetic nanoparticles, focusing on specific diseases ranging from cancer to infectious diseases. Lastly, we will provide a critical evaluation on the current state of this field of cell membrane-based biomimetic nanoparticles and its future directions in immune-based therapy.

The Limitless Future of RNA Therapeutics

“…They are spherical vesicles consisting of at least one phospholipid bilayer enclosing an aqueous core. They are a flexible drug delivery particle which may have various surface modifications (see Figure 8, Sushnitha et al, 2020;Zinger et al, 2020) capable of delivering a variety of therapeutic payloads FIGURE 8 | Lipid based nanoparticles accommodate a variety of therapeutic payloads including hydrophobic and hydrophilic small molecules, genetic materials, and proteins. One of the advantages of this platform is its ability to functionalize the surface with various proteins that can serve to target and localize nanoparticles over specific targets, imaging probes or covalent modification (Sushnitha et al, 2020;Zinger et al, 2020).…”

“…They are spherical vesicles consisting of at least one phospholipid bilayer enclosing an aqueous core. They are a flexible drug delivery particle which may have various surface modifications (see Figure 8 , Sushnitha et al, 2020 ; Zinger et al, 2020 ) capable of delivering a variety of therapeutic payloads ( Torchilin, 2005 ). Most notably amongst these application is Doxil [ Barenholz (Chezy), 2012 ] a liposome encapsulated formulation of doxorubicin for the treatment of cancer, that reduces heart toxicity related to the drug.…”

“… Lipid based nanoparticles accommodate a variety of therapeutic payloads including hydrophobic and hydrophilic small molecules, genetic materials, and proteins. One of the advantages of this platform is its ability to functionalize the surface with various proteins that can serve to target and localize nanoparticles over specific targets, imaging probes or covalent modification ( Sushnitha et al, 2020 ; Zinger et al, 2020 ). …”

Cancer Immunotherapy and Application of Nanoparticles in Cancers Immunotherapy as the Delivery of Immunotherapeutic Agents and as the Immunomodulators

“…Immunomodulatory NPs can readily improve the therapeutic effects by enhancing immune stimulation and minimizing off-target side effects. As the result, more research works are undergoing to understand the mechanisms of NPs-Immuno-interactions which is highly important to know the immunomodulating potential of NPs, as the immunostimulating or as immunosuppression [ 139 ]. The function of NP in the immunomodulation depends on several factors that are intrinsic to NPs, such as surface chemistry, charge, size, and shape, besides extrinsic factors such as route of administration [ 140 ].…”

Nano-enabled immunomodulation

“…Aside from the multiple strategies developed to improve cancer immunotherapies, chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis can also benefit from nanoimmunotherapy approaches 4 . Moreover, biomimetic strategies using nanoparticles coated with leukocyte-derived membranes have recently been applied in preclinical models to ameliorate severe inflammatory conditions 5 . Finally, nanomaterials, with their uniquely tuneable features and the possibility of organising surface epitopes in specific spatial arrangements, can be used to explore basic aspects of immunology, offering insights on how the immune system recognises specific danger signals on pathogens, and on how immune cells interact between each other 6 .…”