FURI | Fall 2024

Leveraging Hybrid Cell Membrane Cloaking for Minimizing Nanoparticle Phagocytosis

Cardiovascular ailments, particularly atherosclerosis, pose significant health risks globally. Existing treatments often fail to target diseased regions, limiting their effectiveness outside of surgical intervention. This project aims to improve the stability of an existing approach pioneered by the Wang lab; creating hybrid membrane-coated nanoparticles (R-MoNP) that merge red blood cell (RBC) membranes with monocyte membranes. This hybrid cloaking strategy aims to decrease phagocytosis and extend nanoparticle circulation time, thereby enhancing targeted delivery to atherosclerotic plaques. This method could provide a breakthrough in precision medicine for cardiovascular diseases.