Stem Cell Membrane-coated Nanoparticle (SC-NP) Engineering Technology

Nanoparticle-based therapeutic modalities, such as prevention and detection, have the potential to greatly impact how diseases are diagnosed and managed in the clinic. However, nanomedicine usually has two disadvantages: low accumulation at the target sites and rapid clearance from blood circulation. Our company uses cell membrane coating technology to overcome these limitations, owing to the enhanced targeted delivery and reduced immunogenicity of cell membrane moieties. Creative Biolabs provides stem cell membrane-coated nanoparticle (SC-NP) engineering services to greatly augment the potency and safety of existing nanocarriers.

Application of Stem Cell Membrane-Coated Nanoparticle (SC-NP)

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer desirable characteristics including extended circulation and tumor targeting, making them ideal for delivery of chemotherapeutic or photosensitizing agents to tumors. By functionalizing the MSC membrane, they achieved a high degree of nanoparticle (NP) uptake and more efficient tumor targeting and cancer cell killing, markedly inhibiting tumor growth by 78.2% in vivo.

MSC-coated nanoparticles (NPs) are also employed in the context of phototherapeutic regimens. The resultant biomimetic photodynamic therapy (PDT) particles were loaded with two photosensitizing agents with high efficiency owing to the ideal loading characteristics of the internal particles, and both could be activated by irradiation. By using the particles in vitro and in vivo, scientists found that MSC coating could extend circulation, improve tumor targeting, and enhance anti-tumor efficacy.

Fig.1 VSEL-like stem cells observed in culture, appearing as solitary entities (indicated by arrows) or forming cellular aggregates, with diameters reaching up to 5 µm.^{1, 3}

Our SC-NP Technology

The investigation and modification of the stem cell membrane would be a basic strategy to fabricate membrane-coated nanoparticles with specific functions beyond those conferred by cell membranes. Creative Biolabs provides three common strategies for the cell membrane modification of nanoparticles. Besides, we also provide solutions to stem cell membrane coating technologies.

• Cell Membrane Modification of Nanoparticles

(1) Physical modification. The cell membrane is made up of lipids and has membrane fluidity due to lipid-based materials. Materials such as glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) can be easily anchored to the cell membrane or cell membrane coating via lipid-to-lipid interactions.

(2) Chemical strategy. Compared with physical modification, this method is more stable, straightforward, and efficient for cell membrane modification and nanoparticle coating. In addition, physical modification has the potential risk of changing the cell membrane permeability by changing the lipid structure, while covalent conjugation will not have this issue.

(3) Biological modification of the cell membrane. This method uses a genetic tool to introduce desired proteins or peptides to the cell membrane before it is coated onto the nanoparticle surface.

Fig.2 Investigating the impact of interactions between nanoparticles and neutrophils.^{2, 3}

• Stem Cell Membrane Coating Technologies

(1) Conventional physical extrusion method of stem cell membrane coating fabrication.

(2) Sonication method of stem cell membrane coating fabrication.

(3) Microfluidic system with electroporation device to fabricate cell membrane coated nanoparticles.

At Creative Biolabs, we're passionate about stem cell membrane-coated nanoparticle (SC-NP) engineering technology, and glad to offer comprehensive services across every stage of your project. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.

References

1. Virant-Klun, Irma, et al. "Similar population of CD133+ and DDX4+ VSEL-like stem cells sorted from human embryonic stem cell, ovarian, and ovarian cancer ascites cell cultures: the real embryonic stem cells?" Cells 8.7 (2019): 706.
2. de la Harpe, Kara M., et al. "The hemocompatibility of nanoparticles: a review of cell–nanoparticle interactions and hemostasis." Cells 8.10 (2019): 1209.
3. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.