Cell-mediated drug delivery

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Drug targeting to sites of tissue injury, tumor or infection with limited toxicity is the goal for successful pharmaceutics. Immunocytes (including mononuclear phagocytes (dendritic cells, monocytes and macrophages), neutrophils, and lymphocytes) are highly mobile; they can migrate across impermeable barriers and release their drug cargo at sites of infection or tissue injury. Thus immune cells can be exploited as trojan horses for drug delivery. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW This paper reviews how immunocytes laden with drugs can cross the blood brain or blood tumor barriers, to facilitate treatments for infectious diseases, injury, cancer, or inflammatory diseases. The promises and perils of cell-mediated drug delivery are reviewed, with examples of how immunocytes can be harnessed to improve therapeutic end points. EXPERT OPINION Using cells as delivery vehicles enables targeted drug transport, and prolonged circulation times, along with reductions in cell and tissue toxicities. Such systems for drug carriage and targeted release represent a novel disease combating strategy being applied to a spectrum of human disorders. The design of nanocarriers for cell-mediated drug delivery may differ from those used for conventional drug delivery systems; nevertheless, engaging different defense mechanisms into drug delivery may open new perspectives for the active delivery of drugs.

Next generation drug delivery: circulatory cells-mediated nanotherapeutic approaches

“…Thus, alternative drug delivery approaches are desirable. One emerging strategy to address the above nanotechnology challenges is to select body's own circulatory cells as drug carriers [1,[4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…Circulatory cells have received a significant interest as drug delivery vehicles because of several attractive and distinctive features arise from their unique structures, mechanical properties, and surface functionality [1,[4][5][6][7][8]. These properties include high biocompatibility (if immunologically compatible), high mobility, a longer circulation lifespan, inherent biodegradability through known clearance pathways, natural capability of cell/tissue targeting, high drug loading capacity due to their large internal volume, remarkable stability in circulation, and their ability to cross biological barriers [1,[4][5][6][7].…”

“…These properties include high biocompatibility (if immunologically compatible), high mobility, a longer circulation lifespan, inherent biodegradability through known clearance pathways, natural capability of cell/tissue targeting, high drug loading capacity due to their large internal volume, remarkable stability in circulation, and their ability to cross biological barriers [1,[4][5][6][7]. This editorial article provides an outline of several circulatory cells and their inherent properties (Tables 1) in the design of cell-mediated delivery systems (Figure 1).…”

“…Several investigations using living cells as drug vehicles are underway and summarized in Table 2 [1,7,14]. Two distinct approaches are utilized in cell-mediated drug delivery.…”

Bioactive Scaffolds for the Controlled Formation of Complex Skeletal Tissues

“…For example cells can be used as drug delivery systems. Especially immunocytes that are mobile and can migrate across impermeable barriers can be exploited as trojan horses for drug delivery (Batrakova et al, 2011). Applied cells may also be genetically modified in order to support immunomodulating, homing or paracrine activities at the implant (Myers et al, 2010).…”