Ohio State develops RBC-lipid nanocarriers

Researchers at The Ohio State University have engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) from red blood cell lipids using microfluidics, creating a flexible nanocarrier platform for gene therapy, tumor targeting, and other medical treatments. The study, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, demonstrated that these engineered EVs can evade immune cells via CD47 peptide decoration and target PD-L1-positive breast cancer tumors using anti-PD-L1 nanobodies. In mice, the vesicles circulated and accumulated in the lungs. The platform can encapsulate genetic material, proteins, and adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), protecting them from neutralizing antibodies while preserving gene-delivery function. The approach uses expired red blood cells, offering a sustainable source of lipids. The team, led by Eduardo Reategui and Andre Francis Palmer, aims to focus on gene therapy and lung-targeted delivery. Further testing is needed before clinical use.