TRANSPORTING ANTI-CANCER DRUGS THROUGH RED BLOOD CELLS
Keywords:
Key words: Red blood cells; Drug delivery; Anti-cancer therapy; Erythrocyte carriers; Targeted delivery; Chemotherapy; Biocompatibility; Controlled release.Abstract
Annotation: The use of red blood cells (RBCs) as carriers for anti-cancer drugs
has emerged as a promising strategy to improve therapeutic efficacy while reducing
systemic toxicity. Encapsulation or surface loading of chemotherapeutic agents within
RBCs allows for controlled drug release, prolonged circulation time, and targeted
delivery to tumor tissues. This approach exploits the natural biocompatibility and
immune evasion properties of RBCs, potentially overcoming limitations of
conventional drug delivery systems. Recent studies have demonstrated enhanced
pharmacokinetics, reduced adverse effects, and improved tumor suppression using
RBC-based carriers in both preclinical and early clinical settings. However, challenges
remain in large-scale manufacturing, drug-loading efficiency, and ensuring safety
across diverse patient populations. Continued research into engineering techniques,
optimization of drug-RBC interactions, and integration with other targeted therapies
could establish RBC-mediated delivery as a transformative tool in oncology.
References
References:
1. Bax, B. E., Bain, M. D., Fairbanks, L. D., & Chalmers, R. A. (2019). The use of
human carrier erythrocytes for drug delivery. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and
Technology, 51, 510–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2019.03.018
2. Biagiotti, S., Paoletti, M. F., Fraternale, A., Rossi, L., Magnani, M., & Antonelli,
A. (2011). Erythrocytes as drug delivery systems for antitumor therapy: loading of
doxorubicin in human red blood cells. Blood Cells, Molecules & Diseases, 46(4),
282–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcmd.2011.01.011
3. Magnani, M., Rossi, L., Fraternale, A., Bianchi, M., Antonelli, A., Crinelli, R., &
Chiarantini, L. (2002). Erythrocyte-mediated delivery of drugs, peptides, and
modified oligonucleotides. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 55(10), 1331–1346.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-409X(03)00104-6
4. Muzykantov, V. R. (2010). Drug delivery by red blood cells: vascular carriers
designed by mother nature. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 7(4), 403–427.
