Cell membrane–camouflaged liposomes for tumor cell–selective glycans engineering and imaging in vivo

Significance Cell-surface glycans are dynamic indicators reporting cell physiological state and pathological processes including occurrence and progression of disease (e.g., cancer). For precise cancer diagnosis and treatment, however, it’s difficult to selectively visualize glycans of different cancer cells or cancer subtypes. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of cancer cell membrane–camouflaged azidosugar liposomes for cancer cell–selective metabolic glycoengineering. The biomimetic liposomes inherit the cell selectivity to homotypic cancer cells. Therefore, they cannot only realize selective glycan imaging of different cancer cells and breast cancer subtypes but can also sense lung metastasis of tumors. The strategy is also applicable to the use of tumor tissue–derived cell membranes, implying the clinical prospects for personalized medicine.