Skip to main content
CRS 2025 Annual Meeting & Exposition Main banner
Final Program


CRS Abstract Guide

Bioengineering

Tech Session IV: Bioengineering II

Efficient Vascular Handoff: Rapid Cargo Transfer from Carrier RBCs to Downstream Vasculature

Wednesday, July 16, 2025
3:38 PM - 3:49 PM EDT
Location: 119 A
Introduction:

Red blood cells (RBCs) are promising drug carriers due to their long circulation, abundance, large surface area, and low immunogenicity. Our lab has studied RBC surface conjugation via ab-antigen interactions and scFv fusion proteins, enhancing circulation and confining drug distribution to the bloodstream. RBC hitchhiking (RH) improves nanoparticle delivery, e.g., lungs, but efficient RBC-mediated protein transfer remains challenging. This study evaluates biotin/streptavidin conjugation for RBC-mediated protein delivery, focusing on biodistribution, lung transfer, and glycocalyx involvement.

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of this activity, participants will know
  • evaluates the biotin/strepavidin conjugation platform for protein cargo (e.g., IgG) delivery via RBC
  • focuses on biodistribution, lung transfer efficiency,
  • and focuses on the role of RBC glycocalyx in vascular transfer.
Vladimir Muzykantov, PhD – Principal Investigator, Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania; Jacob Myerson, PhD – Research Assistant Professor, Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania; Oscar Marcos-Contreras, PhD – Research Assistant Professor, Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania