Revolutionary Advances in Red Blood Cell-Based Nano carrier Drug Delivery Systems for Specific Tumor Therapy: Progresses, Challenges, and Research Directions

Author(s): Izzat Ullah, Ihsan Ullah, Adees Wirtan Sarkees Bedros, Dong Hwi Kim, Ji Woo Kim, Sayed Dawood Shah, Taranpreet Singh, Haseeb Aminy, Aliu Olalekan Olatunji, Naveed Alam

Red blood cell (RBC)-based nanocarrier drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising avenue for targeted tumor therapy, leveraging the natural biocompatibility, long circulation time, and unique targeting capabilities of RBCs. This review comprehensively examines recent revolutionary advances in the development of RBC-based nanocarriers, focusing on their design, functionalization, and therapeutic applications in specific tumor types. It discuss the progress made in enhancing drug loading capacity, optimizing release profiles, and achieving targeted delivery to tumor sites. However, several challenges remain, including the complex biophysical properties of RBCs, immunogenicity concerns, and the need for precise control over drug release mechanisms. Additionally, it highlights potential research directions that could address these challenges and improve the efficacy and safety of RBC-based nanocarriers in cancer therapy. By bridging the gap between nanotechnology and biomedicine, RBC-based drug delivery systems hold significant promise for advancing personalized cancer treatment strategies.