Biomimetic nanoparticles: A revolutionary approach to breast cancer therapy using cell membrane coatings

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumour in women worldwide with high heterogeneity. Disease subtype and stage inform treatment strategies, combining systemic therapies (chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, HER2-targeted therapy) and localized modalities (surgery, radiotherapy). Although significant progress in the management of early-stage BC has resulted in improved outcomes, metastatic BC continues to be largely incurable. Conventional treatment approaches face limitations, including poor tumour targetability, systemic toxicity, multidrug resistance, and decreased chemical stability, emphasizing the need for novel therapeutic settings. However, nanotechnology has emerged as a viable option due to its capacity to improve a drug's solubility, stability, targeted delivery, and circulation time. Among novel nanotechnologies, a biomimetic strategy harnessing cell membrane (CM) coated nanoparticles (NPs) has emerged to overcome the limitations imposed by classical therapies as well as uncoated nanocarriers. By exploring the advantage of functional characteristics of natural cell membrane, CM-coated NPs bypass immune surveillance, prolonged systemic circulation, and improved tumour targeting either by active or passive mechanisms. This review describes various CM-coated NPs for BC therapy including their advantages in improving drug delivery and overcoming tumour resistance. Furthermore, it also highlights the challenges associated with their fabrication, scalability, and clinical translation, emphasizing the potential of these biomimetic systems to contribute to the advancement of personalized cancer treatment paradigms.