Using immune cells to deliver medicines to diseased body parts
Adoptive Macrophage Transfers for Nanoparticle Delivery
This work explores how immune cells called macrophages can carry tiny drug-filled particles directly to areas affected by conditions like cancer, autoimmune diseases, and heart problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11123144 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies' immune cells, specifically macrophages, are naturally good at finding and entering inflamed or diseased tissues. Researchers are learning how to use these cells as tiny delivery trucks, attaching nanoparticles filled with medicines or imaging agents to them. The goal is for these 'loaded' macrophages to travel directly to problem areas, like tumors or inflamed joints, and release their cargo. However, we need to understand how these living cells behave when carrying nanoparticles, so this work focuses on how different nanoparticle designs affect macrophage function and how these cells transport their cargo.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational work could eventually benefit patients with a range of conditions, including certain cancers, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and infectious diseases.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions do not involve inflamed tissues or those for whom macrophage-based delivery is not suitable may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more targeted treatments for various diseases, delivering drugs directly where they are needed and potentially reducing side effects.
How similar studies have performed: While the concept of cell-mediated drug delivery is being explored, understanding the complex interactions between macrophages and nanoparticles at this detailed level is a novel and critical area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
Boulder, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado — Boulder, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shields Iv, Charles Wyatt — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Shields Iv, Charles Wyatt
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.