Modified biomimetic core–shell nanostructures enable long circulation and targeted delivery for cancer therapy

Abstract

Significant progress has been made in the application of nanoparticle drug carriers in the treatment of cancer. However, the clearance of nanoparticles by the reticuloendothelial system limits their circulation time and tumor cell targeting, reducing the effectiveness of drug delivery. Herein, we construct a bionic core–shell nanostructure by using a “Trojan horse” strategy. The constructed biotin (bio)-modified red blood cell membrane (RBCm)-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) drug carrier (Bio-RBCm@MSN–DOX) exhibits excellent stability, high efficiency of drug encapsulation, and resistance to elimination by immune cells. Therefore, Bio-RBCm@MSN–DOX is a sustained drug delivery system (SDDS) that prolongs circulation and enhances the effective drug release time. The ability to target HeLa cells increased about 4.64 times and the phagocytic efficiency of macrophages decreased by 2.55 times. The composite core–shell structure developed here can serve as a multifunctional drug carrier system, which can become a novel candidate for “circulating target-therapy” carriers.