Unmet Need:
Although biomimetic polymeric particles have been used for drug delivery, these particles have not been able to mimic the natural cell in terms of size, shape, mechanical properties, and surface features. This invention is a biomimetic particle platform that can be used to simulate natural cells found throughout the body.
Technology Overview:
Johns Hopkins researchers combined multiple aspects of normal cell physiology to create a truly mimetic particle that can be used for enhanced drug delivery. The core particle consists of polymeric construct similar to other biomimetic platforms. However, with the Johns Hopkins researcher’s platform, properties such size, shape and mechanical properties can all be fined tuned to the specific application. The surface consists of a naturally derived cell membrane. Normal bodily cells such as red blood cells or platelets are processed into submicron membrane vesicles and then fused with their versatile polymeric particles. The result is a hybrid particle that mimics the natural cell in terms of size, shape, mechanical properties, and surface features. Together these features enable a level of biomimicry that can be appropriated for various drug delivery applications and cell engineering applications.
Stage of Development:
The inventors created ellipsoidal microparticles with PLGA, PCL and a BLGA/PBAE blend biomaterials each with different sizes but with similar aspect ratios. These particles were coated with red blood cell membranes to prepare the biomimetic functional membrane and analyzed via imaging.
Publications: Sci Adv. 2020 Apr; 6(16): eaay9035
