Natural Killer-Based Therapy: A Prospective Thought for Cancer Treatment Related to Diversified Drug Delivery Pathways
Jing Zang,
Yijun Mei,
Shiguo Zhu,
Shaoping Yin,
Nianping Feng,
Tianyuan Ci,
Yaqi Lyu
Affiliations
Jing Zang
School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
Yijun Mei
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
Shiguo Zhu
Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, School of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
Shaoping Yin
School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine External Medication Development and Application, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
Nianping Feng
School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
Tianyuan Ci
School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
Yaqi Lyu
School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
Immunotherapy has been a research hotspot due to its low side effects, long-lasting efficacy, and wide anti-tumor spectrum. Recently, NK cell-based immunotherapy has gained broad attention for its unique immunological character of tumor identification and eradication and low risk of graft-versus-host disease and cytokine storm. With the cooperation of a drug delivery system (DDS), NK cells activate tumoricidal activity by adjusting the balance of the activating and inhibitory signals on their surface after drug-loaded DDS administration. Moreover, NK cells or NK-derived exosomes can also be applied as drug carriers for distinct modification to promote NK activation and exert anti-tumor effects. In this review, we first introduce the source and classification of NK cells and describe the common activating and inhibitory receptors on their surface. Then, we summarize the strategies for activating NK cells in vivo through various DDSs. Finally, the application prospects of NK cells in tumor immunotherapy are also discussed.
