Drug delivery is a rapidly growing area of research motivated by the nanotechnology revolution, the ideal of personalized medicine, and the desire to reduce the side effects of toxic anti-cancer drugs. Amongst a bewildering array of different nanostructures and nanocarriers, those examples that are fundamentally bio-inspired and derived from natural sources are particularly preferred. Delivery of vaccines is also an active area of research in this field. Bacterial cells and their components that have been used for drug delivery, include the crystalline cell-surface layer known as “S-layer”, bacterial ghosts, bacterial outer membrane vesicles, and bacterial products or derivatives (e.g. spores, polymers, and magnetic nanoparticles). Considering the origin of these components from potentially pathogenic microorganisms, it is not surprising that they have been applied for vaccines and immunization. The present review critically summarizes their applications focusing on their advantages for delivery of drugs, genes, and vaccines.

纳米技术革命，个性化医学的理想以及减少有毒抗癌药物副作用的愿望推动了药物输送的快速发展。在不同的纳米结构和纳米载体的令人迷惑的阵列中，特别优选那些基本受生物启发并衍生自自然资源的例子。疫苗的递送也是该领域研究的活跃领域。用于药物递送的细菌细胞及其成分包括被称为“ S层”的结晶细胞表面层，细菌重影，细菌外膜囊泡以及细菌产物或衍生物（例如孢子，聚合物和磁性纳米粒子）。考虑到这些成分来自潜在的致病微生物，将其用于疫苗和免疫也就不足为奇了。本综述主要总结了它们的应用，重点介绍了它们在药物，基因和疫苗递送方面的优势。