Recent advancements in erythrocytes, platelets, and albumin as delivery systems

Abstract

Peipei Xu,1,* Ruju Wang,1,2,* Xiaohui Wang,1 Jian Ouyang11Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 2Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workAbstract: In the past few years, nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems have been applied to enhance the efficacy of therapeutics and to alleviate negative effects through the controlled delivery of targeting and releasing agents. However, few drug carriers can achieve high targeting efficacy, even when targeting modalities and surface markers are introduced. Immunological problems have also limited their wide applications. Biological drug delivery systems, such as erythrocytes, platelets, and albumin, have been extensively investigated because of their unique properties. In this review, erythrocytes, platelets, and albumin are described as efficient drug delivery systems. Their properties, applications, advantages, and limitations in disease treatment are explained. This review confirms that these systems can be used to facilitate a specific, biocompatible, and smart drug delivery.Keywords: albumin, biological drug delivery systems, erythrocyte, platelet

Keywords

• albumin
• biological drug delivery systems
• erythrocyte
• platelet