Membrane-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles guided by tumor immunomodulatory regulation for anti-tumor strategies

The effective treatment of cancer remains challenging due to the highly immunosuppressive and complex tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), known for their tunable pore structures and high drug-loading capacity, have been extensively employed in cancer diagnosis and therapy. To combat the development of cancer, emerging studies on cell membrane-coated MSNs (CM-MSNs) reveal that these systems integrate the intrinsic features of MSNs with unique biological functions inherited from source cells-such as immune evasion, tumor targeting, and prolonged circulation-thereby addressing key limitations of bare nanoparticles, including poor targeting efficiency and uncontrolled drug release. As a biomimetic drug delivery platform, they enhance tumor-targeted accumulation through membrane-mediated homing and exert profound immunomodulatory effects within TIME. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in MSNs coated with membranes derived from diverse cellular sources, including innate and adaptive immune cells, blood cells, cancer cells, and engineered hybrid cells, with a particular focus on their roles in regulating the tumor-immune interface. We further discuss the prospects and challenges for the clinical translation of CM-MSNs. Collectively, these developments inspire innovative designs for biomimetic nanoplatforms and open new avenues for optimizing cancer immunotherapy, both via precise manipulation of cellular interactions at the immune interface.