Cellular transformers for targeted therapy

Employing natural cells as drug carriers has been a hotspot in recent years, attributing to their biocompatibility and inherent dynamic properties. In the earlier stage, cells were mainly used as vehicles by virtue of their lipid-delimited compartmentalized structures and native membrane proteins. The scope emphasis was 'what cell displays' instead of 'how cell changes'. More recently, the dynamic behaviours, such as changes in surface protein patterns, morphologies, polarities and in-situ generation of therapeutics, of natural cells have drawn more attention for developing advanced drug delivery systems by fully taking advantage of these processes. In this review, we revolve around the dynamic cellular transformation behaviours which facilitate targeted therapy. Cellular deformation in geometry shape, spitting smaller vesicles, activation of antigen present cells, polarization between distinct phenotypes, local production of therapeutics, and hybridization with synthetic materials are involved. Other than focusing on the traditional delivery of concrete cargoes, more functional 'handles' that are derived from the cells themselves are introduced, such as information exchange, cellular communication and interactions between cell and extracellular environment.