Red blood cell membrane nanoparticles for tumor phototherapy

Non-invasive phototherapy includes photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), and has garnered special interest in anti-tumor therapy. However, traditional photosensitizers or photothermal agents are faced with major challenges, including easy recognition by immune system, rapid clearance from blood circulation, and low accumulation in target sites. Combining the characteristics of natural cell membrane with the characteristics of photosensitizer or photothermal agent is an important technology to achieve the ideal therapeutic effect of cancer. Red cell membrane (RBMs) coated can disguise phototherapy agents as endogenous substances, thus constructing a new nano bionic therapeutic platform, resisting blood clearance and prolonging circulation time. At present, a variety of phototherapy agents based on Nano-RBMs have been isolated or designed. In this review, firstly, the basic principles of Nano-RBMs and phototherapy are expounded respectively. Then, the latest progress of Nano-RBMs for PDT, PTT and PDT/PTT applications in recent five years has been introduced respectively. Finally, the problems and challenges of Nano-RBMs in the field of phototherapy are put forward. [Display omitted] •Recent progresses made in the application of RBMs camouflaged nanoparticles for phototherapy are outlined.•Different strategies of constructing Nano-RBMs for phototherapy are illustrated.•The main challenges and prospects of Nano-RBMs for phototherapy in the future are presented.