Using living cells to carry tiny drug-filled particles
Multiscale approaches to engineering living cells for nanotherapeutic delivery
Researchers are designing ways to use circulating cells to transport microscopic, drug-containing particles so medicines reach diseased tissues more precisely for people who need targeted treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11318984 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to turn blood or other living cells into delivery vehicles that carry nanoparticle medicines straight to disease sites. Scientists will study how particle size, surface features, and cell interactions at multiple biological scales control where nanoparticles travel in the body. The team will engineer circulatory cells and test their ability to move and release drugs using lab experiments and preclinical models while tracking distribution with imaging and biological measurements. The goal is to reduce off-target accumulation and improve how well nanoparticle therapies work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who could benefit are those who may one day receive nanoparticle-based therapies for conditions like cancer or localized inflammatory or tissue-specific diseases and who are willing to take part in future clinical testing.
Not a fit: Because this is early, lab-focused research, patients seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from the project now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make nanoparticle medicines more effective and reduce side effects by delivering drugs more precisely to diseased tissue.
How similar studies have performed: Some related efforts—such as approved liposomal drugs and early experiments using cells to carry therapeutics—have shown promise, but engineering living cells to deliver nanoparticles remains largely experimental.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Zongmin — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Zongmin
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.