Toroid-shaped nanoparticle that carries oxygen like red blood cells
Preclinical Evaluation of a Peptide-amphiphile Derived Toroidal Oxygen Carrier
Tiny doughnut-shaped particles that hold hemoglobin are being developed to deliver oxygen for people who need transfusions but can't get banked blood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261612 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, scientists are building soft, torus-shaped nanoparticles that encapsulate hemoglobin so they can pick up and release oxygen similarly to red blood cells. The team combines computer modeling and machine learning with chemical synthesis and lab tests to tune oxygen binding, reduce harmful nitric oxide uptake, and limit methemoglobin formation. These particles are designed to be stable, sterilizable by lyophilization, biodegradable, and tested in preclinical models before any human use. The approach uses novel peptide-amphiphile self-assembly to achieve the toroidal shape and high payload per particle.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The eventual human candidates would likely include trauma or surgical patients who need urgent oxygen-carrying support and people in settings without access to banked blood.
Not a fit: People who require whole blood components such as platelets or clotting factors, or those with severe allergies to peptide-based biomaterials, may not benefit from this product.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could become a storable, portable blood substitute useful in emergencies, remote locations, or when matched donor blood is unavailable.
How similar studies have performed: Previous hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers largely failed because of physiologic problems like nitric oxide scavenging, so this encapsulated toroidal nanoparticle approach is novel though informed by those past findings.
Where this research is happening
University Park, United States
- Pennsylvania State University, the — University Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pan, Dipanjan — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Pan, Dipanjan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.