Cytomembrane‐Mediated Transport of Metal Ions with Biological Specificity

Abstract

Metal ions are of significant importance in biomedical science. This study reports a new concept of cytomembrane‐mediated biospecific transport of metal ions without using any other materials. For the first time, cytomembranes are exploited for two‐step conjugation with metal ions to provide hybrid nanomaterials. The innate biofunction of cell membranes renders the hybrids with superior advantages over common vehicles for metal ions, including excellent biocompatibility, low immunogenic risk, and particularly specific biotargeting functionality. As a proof‐of‐concept demonstration, cancer cell membranes are used for in vivo delivery of various metal ions, including ruthenium, europium, iron, and manganese, providing a series of tumor‐targeted nanohybrids capable of photothermal therapy/imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, photoacoustic imaging, and fluorescence imaging with improved performances. In addition, the special structure of the cell membrane allows easy accommodation of small‐molecular agents within the nanohybrids for effective chemotherapy. This study provides a new class of metal‐ion‐included nanomaterials with versatile biofunctions and offers a novel solution to address the important challenge in the field of in vivo targeted delivery of metal ions.

Tumor-Derived Membrane Vesicles: A Promising Tool for Personalized Immunotherapy

“…Tumor cells have the ability to self-target and adhere to homologous tumor tissue, known as “homologous adhesion” of tumor cells [ 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Many studies have shown that the abnormal expression of specific antigens on the surface of tumor cells (galactose lectin-3, N-calmucin, immunoglobulin-like cell-adhesion molecule) and cell adhesion molecules (epithelial cell adhesion molecules) contribute to this adhesion effect [ 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”

Biomedical Implants with Charge‐Transfer Monitoring and Regulating Abilities

“…Since various ions act as active sites or messenger molecules of enzymes, the cell behavior can be modulated accordingly. [ 69 ]…”

“…Since various ions act as active sites or messenger molecules of enzymes, the cell behavior can be modulated accordingly. [69] Modifying the surface potential of the implant is another strategy to regulate the charge transfer, which can be realized by applying an external or internal electric field between the implant and cells. [70] Then, the transmembrane charge transfer can be regulated through capacitive or Faradaic charge injection mechanisms.…”

Carrier-free nanoprodrug for p53-mutated tumor therapy via concurrent delivery of zinc-manganese dual ions and ROS

“…Taking advantage of the unique competence of certain exotic materials such as long circulating polyethylene glycol [ 30 ] and high ion-binding hyperbranched polyglycerol [ 31 ], metallic compounds or ions of interest can be formulated into nanocomposites with these materials for better endocytosis. However, the rising concerns on undesirable immunoresponses from such synthetic materials [ 32 ] divert the efforts toward reduction or elimination of the use of exotic materials. In this regard, the preferred and compelling delivery system for dual ions and exogeneous ROS would be primarily composed of the stable formats of ions or ROS without the use of other materials.…”