Neutrophil-Based Drug Delivery Systems

Overview

Journal Adv Mater

Date 2018 Mar 27

PMID 29577477

Citations 117

Authors

Dafeng Chu

Xinyue Dong

Xutong Shi

Canyang Zhang

Zhenjia Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

White blood cells (WBCs) are a major component of immunity in response to pathogen invasion. Neutrophils are the most abundant WBCs in humans, playing a central role in acute inflammation induced by pathogens. Adhesion to vasculature and tissue infiltration of neutrophils are key processes in acute inflammation. Many inflammatory/autoimmune disorders and cancer therapies have been found to be involved in activation and tissue infiltration of neutrophils. A promising strategy to develop novel targeted drug delivery systems is the targeting and exploitation of activated neutrophils. Herein, a new drug delivery platform based on neutrophils is reviewed. There are two types of drug delivery systems: neutrophils as carriers and neutrophil-membrane-derived nanovesicles. It is discussed how nanoparticles hijack neutrophils in vivo to deliver therapeutics across blood vessel barriers and how neutrophil-membrane-derived nanovesicles target inflamed vasculature. Finally, the potential applications of neutrophil-based drug delivery systems in treating inflammation and cancers are presented.

Citing Articles

Physically engineered extracellular vesicles targeted delivering miR-21-5p to promote renoprotection after renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Wu D, Ma W, Wang L, Long C, Chen S, Liu J Mater Today Bio. 2025; 31:101528.

PMID: 39980630 PMC: 11840549. DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.101528.

Targeting and reprogramming microglial phagocytosis of neutrophils by ginsenoside Rg1 nanovesicles promotes stroke recovery.

Hu K, Ye J, Fan P, Zheng R, Wang S, Peng Y Bioact Mater. 2025; 47:181-197.

PMID: 39906647 PMC: 11790502. DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.01.017.

Neutrophil-derived apoptotic body membranes-fused exosomes targeting treatment for myocardial infarction.

Wang J, Li J, Su G, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Jia Y Regen Biomater. 2025; 12:rbae145.

PMID: 39866384 PMC: 11757162. DOI: 10.1093/rb/rbae145.

Nanoparticle-Based Therapies for Management of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Neurotrauma, and Stroke.

Hey G, Mehkri I, Mehkri Y, Maqbool H, Tahirkheli M, Woodford S Biomedicines. 2025; 13(1).

PMID: 39857600 PMC: 11760890. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13010016.

Neutrophil heterogeneity and plasticity: unveiling the multifaceted roles in health and disease.

He W, Yan L, Hu D, Hao J, Liou Y, Luo G MedComm (2020). 2025; 6(2):e70063.

PMID: 39845896 PMC: 11751288. DOI: 10.1002/mco2.70063.

References

van der Burg S, Arens R, Ossendorp F, van Hall T, Melief C . Vaccines for established cancer: overcoming the challenges posed by immune evasion. Nat Rev Cancer. 2016; 16(4):219-33. DOI: 10.1038/nrc.2016.16. View

Hu C, Zhang L, Aryal S, Cheung C, Fang R, Zhang L . Erythrocyte membrane-camouflaged polymeric nanoparticles as a biomimetic delivery platform. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011; 108(27):10980-5. PMC: 3131364. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1106634108. View

Bechet D, Mordon S, Guillemin F, Barberi-Heyob M . Photodynamic therapy of malignant brain tumours: a complementary approach to conventional therapies. Cancer Treat Rev. 2012; 40(2):229-41. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2012.07.004. View

Agostinis P, Berg K, Cengel K, Foster T, Girotti A, Gollnick S . Photodynamic therapy of cancer: an update. CA Cancer J Clin. 2011; 61(4):250-81. PMC: 3209659. DOI: 10.3322/caac.20114. View

Mendonca M, Cunha F, Murta E, Tavares-Murta B . Failure of neutrophil chemotactic function in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2005; 57(5):663-70. DOI: 10.1007/s00280-005-0086-4. View

Wang C, Ye Y, Hu Q, Bellotti A, Gu Z . Tailoring Biomaterials for Cancer Immunotherapy: Emerging Trends and Future Outlook. Adv Mater. 2017; 29(29). DOI: 10.1002/adma.201606036. View

Greenberg A, Hudson L, Shen L, Roitt I . Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity due to a "null" lymphoid cell. Nat New Biol. 1973; 242(117):111-3. DOI: 10.1038/newbio242111a0. View

Drechsler M, Megens R, van Zandvoort M, Weber C, Soehnlein O . Hyperlipidemia-triggered neutrophilia promotes early atherosclerosis. Circulation. 2010; 122(18):1837-45. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.961714. View

Zhang F, Qian L, Flood P, Shi J, Hong J, Gao H . Inhibition of IkappaB kinase-beta protects dopamine neurons against lipopolysaccharide-induced neurotoxicity. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2010; 333(3):822-33. PMC: 2879929. DOI: 10.1124/jpet.110.165829. View

10.

Schaue D, McBride W . Opportunities and challenges of radiotherapy for treating cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2015; 12(9):527-40. PMC: 8396062. DOI: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2015.120. View

11.

Chu D, Dong X, Zhao Q, Gu J, Wang Z . Photosensitization Priming of Tumor Microenvironments Improves Delivery of Nanotherapeutics via Neutrophil Infiltration. Adv Mater. 2017; 29(27). PMC: 5510494. DOI: 10.1002/adma.201701021. View

12.

Budnik V, Ruiz-Canada C, Wendler F . Extracellular vesicles round off communication in the nervous system. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2016; 17(3):160-72. PMC: 4989863. DOI: 10.1038/nrn.2015.29. View

13.

Balkwill F, Mantovani A . Cancer-related inflammation: common themes and therapeutic opportunities. Semin Cancer Biol. 2012; 22(1):33-40. DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2011.12.005. View

14.

Phillipson M, Kubes P . The neutrophil in vascular inflammation. Nat Med. 2011; 17(11):1381-90. PMC: 7095830. DOI: 10.1038/nm.2514. View

15.

Fontana F, Shahbazi M, Liu D, Zhang H, Makila E, Salonen J . Multistaged Nanovaccines Based on Porous Silicon@Acetalated Dextran@Cancer Cell Membrane for Cancer Immunotherapy. Adv Mater. 2016; 29(7). DOI: 10.1002/adma.201603239. View

16.

Gollnick S, Evans S, Baumann H, Owczarczak B, Maier P, Vaughan L . Role of cytokines in photodynamic therapy-induced local and systemic inflammation. Br J Cancer. 2003; 88(11):1772-9. PMC: 2377133. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6600864. View

17.

Santivasi W, Xia F . Ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage, response, and repair. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2013; 21(2):251-9. DOI: 10.1089/ars.2013.5668. View

18.

Bae Y, Park K . Targeted drug delivery to tumors: myths, reality and possibility. J Control Release. 2011; 153(3):198-205. PMC: 3272876. DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.06.001. View

19.

Dougherty T, Gomer C, Henderson B, Jori G, Kessel D, Korbelik M . Photodynamic therapy. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1998; 90(12):889-905. PMC: 4592754. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/90.12.889. View

20.

Palucka K, Banchereau J . Cancer immunotherapy via dendritic cells. Nat Rev Cancer. 2012; 12(4):265-77. PMC: 3433802. DOI: 10.1038/nrc3258. View