Title: A combination of carrier erythrocytes and artificial nanoparticles as a promising approach for drug delivery: a review

Authors: Nadeesha Athukorala; Sanath Rajapakse; S.D.S.S. Sooriyapathirana

Addresses: Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka ' Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka ' Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka

Abstract: The need for extensive drug delivery research was fuelled by the increasing awareness of how drug release patterns affect therapeutic responses and the necessity for safe and efficient drug administration. Scientists understood that novel therapies are possible when a drug is encapsulated within or attached to a carrier. It has thus become clear that drug carrier systems are essential as the drug itself. Nanotechnology's applications in drug delivery have been reported to improve therapeutic outcomes. Nevertheless, challenges related to biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, and rapid clearance have limited the use of nanomedicine. After extensive research, erythrocyte membrane camouflaged nanoparticles loaded with drugs have become an attractive candidate for drug delivery. This strategy has offered an opportunity to unite the properties of natural cell membrane with that of nanoparticles. This paper reviews the development and importance of the combined strategy and provides a foundation to stimulate the interest in this novel strategy.

Keywords: erythrocytes; nanoparticles; drug delivery; carrier erythrocytes; membrane; nanocarriers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2023.135767

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2023 Vol.15 No.1, pp.18 - 40

Received: 05 Nov 2021
Accepted: 16 Aug 2022
Published online: 04 Jan 2024 *

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