Cells as Factories for Humanized Encapsulation

Zhengwei Mao,^,† Regis Cartier,^,† Anja Hohl,† Maura Farinacci,‡ Anca Dorhoi,‡ Tich-Lam Nguyen,§ Paul Mulvaney,§ John Ralston,|| Stefan H. E. Kaufmann,‡ Helmuth M␣ohwald,† and Dayang Wang*,†,||

†Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, D-14424, Potsdam, Germany

‡Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Department of Immunology, 10117, Berlin, Germany

§School of Chemistry and Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia

Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5095, Australia

ABSTRACT: Biocompatibility is of paramount importance for drug delivery, tumor labeling, and in vivo application of nanoscale bioprobes. Until now, biocompatible surface proces- sing has typically relied on PEGylation and other surface coatings, which, however, cannot minimize clearance by macro- phages or the renal system but may also increase the risk of chemical side e␣ects. Cell membranes provide a generic and far more natural approach to the challenges of encapsulation and delivery in vivo. Here we harness for the ␣rst time living cells as “factories” to manufacture cell membrane capsules for encap- sulation and delivery of drugs, nanoparticles, and other biolabels. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the built-in protein channels of the new capsules can be utilized for controlled release of encapsulated reagents.

KEYWORDS: Drug delivery, encapsulation, nanoparticles, cell membranes, nanostructures