Red Blood Cell Membrane Bioengineered Zr-89 Labelled Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanosphere for Overcoming Phagocytosis

Biomimetic nanoparticles (NPs) have been actively studied for their biological compatibility due to its distinguished abilities viz. long-term circulation, low toxicity, ease for surface modification, and its ability to avoid phagocytosis of NPs by macrophages. Coating the NPs with a variety of cell membranes bearing the immune control proteins increases drug efficacy while complementing the intrinsic advantages of the NPs. In this study, efforts were made to introduce oxophilic radiometal 89 Zr with hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres (HMSNs) having abundant silanol groups and were bioengineered with red blood cell membrane (Rm) having cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) protein to evaluate its long-term in vivo behavior. We were successful in demonstrating the increased in vivo stability of synthesized Rm-camouflaged, 89 Zr-labelled HMSNs with the markedly reduced 89 Zr release. Rm camouflaged 89 Zr-HMSNs effectively accumulated in the tumor by avoiding phagocytosis of macrophages. In addition, re-injecting the Rm isolated using the blood of the same animal helped to overcome the immune barrier. This novel strategy can be applied extensively to identify the long-term in vivo behavior of nano-drugs while enhancing their biocompatibility.