Using platelets to deliver natural healing particles to damaged heart and lungs
Harnessing Platelet-Endothelial Interactions for Exosome Delivery
Researchers are developing a way to use platelets to carry tiny natural packets called exosomes to help people recovering from heart attacks or acute lung injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia Univ New York Morningside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11162289 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to attach or load therapeutic exosomes onto platelets so the exosomes travel to injured blood vessels in the heart or lungs. In the lab and in animal models, the team will test whether platelet-based delivery reduces clearance by the liver and spleen, increases binding to damaged vessels, and improves uptake by target cells. The work builds on early clinical interest in exosome therapies but focuses on solving the delivery problem that limits current treatments. If successful, the approach could be moved toward human testing at the sponsoring institution.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People recovering from recent myocardial infarction (heart attack) or acute lung injury would be the likely candidates for future clinical trials, though the current work is primarily preclinical.
Not a fit: Patients without recent ischemic or acute lung injury, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment, are unlikely to benefit from this early-stage research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could deliver more therapeutic exosomes to injured heart or lung tissue, potentially improving recovery while reducing required doses and off-target side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Early-phase human trials of exosome therapies have begun and preclinical studies show promise, but targeted platelet-based delivery remains largely untested in people.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia Univ New York Morningside — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Ke — Columbia Univ New York Morningside
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Ke
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.