Bioinspired cellular membrane vesicles derived from bacterial and erythrocyte ghosts: Development and applications as a smart drug delivery system

This study emphasizes the importance and application of bioinspired cellular membrane vesicles as smart drug delivery carriers. The lessons can be learned from nature for the smart drug delivery system. Biological membranes are essential to provide stable and functional compartments, preserve cellular architecture, and promote selective signaling and transportation, which are mediated by embedded integral or peripheral proteins. Bioinspired mimicking of natural components in organisms has demonstrated their potential to serve as an innovative system for theranostic applications. However, mimicking the cell membrane in an artificial system is complex because of the multifarious biological structures. The primary advantage of these bioinspired delivery systems is the systematic biodistribution that nonnative delivery systems could not possess. This review will present biomimics resulting from self-assembling amphiphilic polymers. The promising artificial self-assemblies tagged with biomolecules by encapsulation, hybridization, or insertion can serve as means for the development of a smart drug delivery system. Moreover, in case the developed system is stimuli-responsive, the system allows for the triggered or on demand release of payload with in situ specific reaction. In conclusion, cellular membrane vesicles offer an important approach to efficient drug-targeted treatments at the molecular and cellular levels. Here, bioinspired cellular membrane vesicles are discussed along with their applications. Relevant examples of bioinspired membrane mimics are included for an overview of drug delivery candidates. The advantages of using biomimetic membranes and current limitations for future improvements are also included.