Biomembrane and metal nanostructures for cancer theranostics: The state of the art in the combination of organic and inorganic chemistry

Engineering strategies and application of biomembrane metal nanostructures (BMNs). Created by BioRender. com. [Display omitted] •The scientific advancement of biomembrane metal nanostructures (BMNs) is summarized in detail.•A systematic overview of the engineering strategy of BMNs.•The features of several types of BMNs are summarized and contrasted, as well as their key uses in emerging cancer treatment.•Challenges, trends and latest strategies of BMNs were highlighted. Nanostructures can facilitate multimodal cancer theranostics by realizing cancer-selective drug delivery. Biomembrane nanostructures (e.g., exosomes and cell membrane-derived nanostructures) are characterized by superior biocompatibility, intrinsic targeting ability and immune-modulating properties. However, their application is greatly limited by uncontrolled drug release and insufficient responsiveness, which can be overcome by metal nanostructures with distinct physicochemical properties (e.g., optoelectronic and magnetic properties). Therefore, the combination of these two nanostructures (defined as biomembrane and metal nanostructures [BMNs]) may facilitate the development of innovative nanostructures with multiple functions for cancer theranostics. BMNs have attractive advantages such as enhanced biocompatibility, natural targeting ability, intelligent responsiveness and controlled drug release, which are important for developing next-generation cancer nanostructures. This review summarizes recent advances in BMNs in cancer theranostics and highlights different types of engineering approaches and theranostic mechanisms. A series of engineering strategies for combining different biomembrane nanostructures, including liposomes, exosomes, cell membranes and bacterial membranes, with different metal nanostructures (gold, silver and copper) are summarized. The combination strategy can greatly enhance the targeting, intelligence and functionality of BMNs, thereby serving as a stronger cancer theranostic method. The challenges associated with the clinical translation of BMNs and future perspectives are also discussed.