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Int J Nanomedicine. 2023; 18: 4521–4539.

Published online 2023 Aug 8. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S421173

PMCID: PMC10422973

PMID: 37576466

Macrophages as Promising Carriers for Nanoparticle Delivery in Anticancer Therapy

Anna Wrblewska,1 Agnieszka Szczygie,1 Boena Szermer-Olearnik,1 and Elbieta Pajtasz-Piasecka1

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Abstract

Macrophages play a critical role in the immune response due to their ability to recognize and remove pathogens, as well as present antigens, which are involved in inflammation, but they are also one of the most abundant immune cell populations present in the tumor microenvironment. In recent years, macrophages have become promising cellular carriers for drug and nanoparticle delivery to the tumor microenvironment, mainly due to their natural properties such as biocompatibility, degradability, lack of immunogenicity, long half-life in circulation, crossing biological barriers, and the possibility of migration and accumulation at a site of inflammation such as a tumor. For the effectiveness of this therapeutic strategy, known as “Trojan horse”, it is important that the nanoparticles engulfed by macrophages do not affect their proper functioning. In our review, we discussed how the size, shape, chemical and mechanical properties of nanoparticles influence their internalization by macrophages. In addition, we described the promising research utilizing macrophages, their cell membranes and macrophage-derived exosomes as drug carriers in anticancer therapy. As a prospect of the wider use of this therapeutic strategy, we postulate its future application in boron delivery to the tumor environment in boron neutron capture therapy.