By combining living cells with therapeutics, cell–drug conjugates can potentiate the functions of both components, particularly for applications in drug delivery and therapy. The conjugates can be designed to persist in the bloodstream, undergo chemotaxis, evade surveillance by the immune system, proliferate, or maintain or transform their cellular phenotypes. In this Review, we discuss strategies for the design of cell–drug conjugates with specific functions, the techniques for their preparation, and their applications in the treatment of cancers, autoimmune diseases and other pathologies. We also discuss the translational challenges and opportunities of this class of drug-delivery systems and therapeutics.

通过将活细胞与治疗药物相结合，细胞-药物偶联物可以增强两种成分的功能，特别是在药物输送和治疗方面的应用。缀合物可以设计成持续存在于血流中、经历趋化性、逃避免疫系统的监视、增殖、或维持或转变其细胞表型。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了具有特定功能的细胞药物缀合物的设计策略、其制备技术及其在治疗癌症、自身免疫性疾病和其他病理学中的应用。我们还讨论了此类药物输送系统和疗法的转化挑战和机遇。