Development of Cell-Derived Plasma Membrane Vesicles as a Nanoparticle Encapsulation and Delivery System

We have introduced a novel technique to load nanoparticles within the cell plasma membrane during the GPMV vesiculation process. These GPMVs are capable of (a) encapsulating different types of nanoparticles (including larger and not highly-positively charged bodies that have been technically challenging cargoes) using a parental cell uptake technique, and (b) improving delivery of nanoparticles to cells without significant cytotoxicity. Ultimately, the use of GPMVs or other complex vesicles with endogenous cell surface membrane proteins and lipids can lead to highly effective cell membrane-based nanoparticle/drug delivery systems.