Nanoparticle Attachment to Erythrocyte Via the Glycophorin A Targeted ERY1 Ligand Enhances Binding without Impacting Cellular Function.

Purpose: Nanoparticle (NP) attachment to biocompatible secondary carriers such as red blood cell (RBC) can prolong blood residence time of drug molecules and help create next-generation nanotherapeutics. However, little is known about the impact of RBC-targeted NPs on erythrocyte function.

Methods: The objectives of this study were to develop and characterize in vitro a novel poly-L-lysine (PLL) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) copolymer-based NP containing fluorescent-tagged bovine serum albumin (BSA), and conjugated with ERY1, a 12 amino acid peptide with high affinity for the RBC membrane protein glycophorin A (ENP).