Application of Biomimetic SPIONs in Targeted Lung Cancer Therapy: Cell-Membrane Camouflage Technology and Lung Retention Enhancement Strategies

Liu, Quanxing; Jiang, Li; Wang, Kai; Dai, Jigang; Liu, Xiaobing

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics17101301

This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.

Open AccessReview

Application of Biomimetic SPIONs in Targeted Lung Cancer Therapy: Cell-Membrane Camouflage Technology and Lung Retention Enhancement Strategies

by

Quanxing Liu

^†

,

Li Jiang

^†,

Kai Wang

,

Jigang Dai

^* and

Xiaobing Liu

^*

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing 400037, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(10), 1301; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101301

Submission received: 31 July 2025 / Revised: 11 September 2025 / Accepted: 24 September 2025 / Published: 7 October 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Pulmonary Drug Delivery)

Download Versions Notes

Abstract

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality, hindered by drug resistance, limited targeting, and low immunotherapy response. This review presents biomimetic superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as a next-generation theranostic platform. By cloaking SPIONs with cell membranes—macrophage, neutrophil, or cancer cell—we endow them with biological targeting, immune evasion, and deep lung penetration. Coupled with magnetic field-guided retention and real-time imaging, these systems enable precision hyperthermia, on-demand drug release, and immune microenvironment reprogramming. We critically compare membrane types, outline translational challenges, and propose a regulatory-aligned safety framework. This biomimetic strategy offers a dual diagnostic–therapeutic solution for lung cancer and potentially other solid tumors.

Keywords: magnetic targeting; tumor microenvironment responsiveness; trans-barrier delivery; biomimetic nanoparticles; lung cancer therapy

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, Q.; Jiang, L.; Wang, K.; Dai, J.; Liu, X. Application of Biomimetic SPIONs in Targeted Lung Cancer Therapy: Cell-Membrane Camouflage Technology and Lung Retention Enhancement Strategies. Pharmaceutics 2025, 17, 1301. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101301

AMA Style

Liu Q, Jiang L, Wang K, Dai J, Liu X. Application of Biomimetic SPIONs in Targeted Lung Cancer Therapy: Cell-Membrane Camouflage Technology and Lung Retention Enhancement Strategies. Pharmaceutics. 2025; 17(10):1301. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101301

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Quanxing, Li Jiang, Kai Wang, Jigang Dai, and Xiaobing Liu. 2025. "Application of Biomimetic SPIONs in Targeted Lung Cancer Therapy: Cell-Membrane Camouflage Technology and Lung Retention Enhancement Strategies" Pharmaceutics 17, no. 10: 1301. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101301

APA Style

Liu, Q., Jiang, L., Wang, K., Dai, J., & Liu, X. (2025). Application of Biomimetic SPIONs in Targeted Lung Cancer Therapy: Cell-Membrane Camouflage Technology and Lung Retention Enhancement Strategies. Pharmaceutics, 17(10), 1301. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101301

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.

Article Menu

Application of Biomimetic SPIONs in Targeted Lung Cancer Therapy: Cell-Membrane Camouflage Technology and Lung Retention Enhancement Strategies

Abstract

Share and Cite

Article Metrics

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI