1Assistant Professor, Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, 157/F Nilgunj Road, Panihati, Kolkata-700114
2Assistant Professor, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 248016, India
3Assistant Professor, Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, 157/F Nilgunj Road, Panihati, Kolkata-700114. Orcid ID: 0009-0008-1271-7478
4Masters of Pharmacy in Pharmacology, The Neotia University, Jhinger Pole, Diamond Harbour Rd, Sarisha, Jhinga, West Bengal 743368
5Masters of Pharmacy in Pharmacology, Jhinger Pole, Diamond Harbour Rd, Sarisha, Jhinga, West Bengal 743368
6Assistant Professor, BCDA College of Pharmacy and Technology, Campus-2, Madhyamgram, Kolkata, West Bengal
7*Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Adamas University, Adamas Knowledge City, Barasat - Barrackpore Road, P.O. -Jagannathpur, District - 24 Parganas (North), Kolkata - 700 126, West Bengal, India
Despite substantial advancements in nanomedicine, the clinical translation of synthetic drug delivery systems remains severely hindered by biological barriers, including rapid immune clearance, off-target toxicity, and limited targeting efficacy. To bridge the gap between synthetic pharmacokinetics and biological complexity, cell-membrane camouflaged nanocarriers have emerged as a transformative biomimetic platform. By encloaking synthetic nanoparticle cores with intact natural cell membranes derived from erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes, cancer cells, or engineered hybrids this top-down nanotechnology endows delivery vehicles with unparalleled, naturally evolved functionalities. This comprehensive review critically examines the latest fabrication and characterization methodologies of these bio-inspired platforms, highlighting how specific membrane sources dictate their unique physiological behaviors, such as CD47-mediated immune evasion and multi-receptor homotypic targeting. We systematically explore their multifunctional capabilities within complex biological environments, emphasizing active targeting, stimuli-responsive drug release, and theranostic integration. Furthermore, we evaluate the profound therapeutic potential of membrane-camouflaged nanocarriers across diverse clinical domains, including precision oncology, immunotherapy, infectious disease neutralization, and cardiovascular interventions. Finally, we provide a critical perspective on current translational bottlenecks manufacturing scale-up, long-term preservation, and regulatory complexities and discuss the future trajectory of the field, driven by artificial intelligence and synthetic biology, toward realizing next-generation, personalized nanomedicines.
Keywords: Biomimetic nanocarriers; Cell-membrane coating; Targeted drug delivery; Immune evasion; Theranostics; Translational nanomedicine.
How to cite this article: Kundu A, Dixit R, Majumdar S, Barik A, Maity A, Sarkar S, Das PP. Bio-Inspired Cell-Membrane Camouflaged Nanocarriers: Bridging the Gap Between Synthetic Delivery Systems and Biological Complexity. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(10s): 274-289; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.10s.39
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None