title: Engineering erythrocytes for the modulation of drugs' and contrasting agents' pharmacokinetics and biodistribution.
abstract: Pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and biological activity are key parameters that determine the success or failure of therapeutics. Many developments intended to improve their in vivo performance, aim at modulating concentration, biodistribution, and targeting to tissues, cells or subcellular compartments. Erythrocyte-based drug delivery systems are especially efficient in maintaining active drugs in circulation, in releasing them for several weeks or in targeting drugs to selected cells. Erythrocytes can also be easily processed to entrap the desired pharmaceutical ingredients before re-infusion into the same or matched donors. These carriers are totally biocompatible, have a large capacity and could accommodate traditional chemical entities (glucocorticoids, immunossuppresants, etc.), biologics (proteins) and/or contrasting agents (dyes, nanoparticles). Carrier erythrocytes have been evaluated in thousands of infusions in humans proving treatment safety and efficacy, hence gaining interest in the management of complex pathologies (particularly in chronic treatments and when side-effects become serious issues) and in new diagnostic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Urbino, PU, Italy; EryDel SpA, Urbino, PU, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Urbino, PU, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pierigè
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Urbino, PU, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Urbino, PU, Italy.
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bigini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Urbino, PU, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gabucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, CA, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peiretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino, Urbino, PU, Italy; EryDel SpA, Urbino, PU, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: Delivery of vascular contrasting agents; Dexamethasone; Drug delivery by red blood cells; Enzyme replacement therapy; Erythrocytes; Immunophilins; Tacrolimus