Engineered Cell Membrane-Coated Nanoparticles: A New Strategy for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis, and its treatment faces multiple challenges such as difficulties in diagnosis, a dense tumor microenvironment, and chemotherapy resistance. Cell membrane-coated nanoparticles, as a biomimetic delivery strategy, significantly enhance the circulation time and tumor accumulation efficiency of drugs by utilizing natural cell membranes to achieve immune evasion and active targeting, which holds promising potential for improving the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of PDAC. This review systematically introduces the membrane sources, preparation, and characterization methods of cell membrane-coated nanoparticles, and elaborates on membrane functionalization strategies, including physical, chemical, and genetic engineering approaches, in enhancing targeting capabilities and enabling synergistic therapies. Furthermore, this review summarizes the specific applications of cell membrane-coated nanoparticles in improving chemotherapy resistance, synergizing with physical therapies, and remodeling the immune microenvironment for PDAC treatment. Although cell membrane-coated nanoparticles demonstrate significant potential, their clinical translation still faces challenges related to standardization and safety, which require interdisciplinary research to overcome.