Chemical Engineering Seminar

Efforts to extend nanoparticle residence time in vivo have inspired many strategies in particle surface modifications to bypass macrophage uptake and systemic clearance.  Herein I report a top-down biomimetic approach in particle functionalization by coating synthetic nanoparticles with natural red blood cell (RBC) membranes including both membrane lipids and associated membrane proteins for long-circulating cargo delivery.  This approach aims to camouflage the nanoparticle surface wth the erythrocyte exterior for long circulation while retaining the applicability of the cores that support the RBC membrane shell.  In vivo results revealed superior pharmacokinetics and biodistribution by the RBC-mimicking nanoparticles as compared to control particles coated wth the state-of-the-art synthetic stealth materials.  Two promising applications of such biomimetic nanoparticle system will be discussed; drug delivery and systemic detoxification.