Our Platform
Why Platelets?
Platelets are versatile cells that perform many essential functions in addition to plugging vessel walls. They are the Swiss army knives of the blood. They are best-known for their ability to stop bleeding, but they also naturally function as the host transport and delivery system for many essential growth factors. Platelets normally function like a sponge, picking up specific proteins and antibodies, delivering factors to tumors, and are cleared by the liver. We’re simply using biologically inspired engineering to hijack these natural platelet functions designed by mother nature.
- Joseph Italiano, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Co-Founder, PlateletBio
Platelets are superior cells for drug discovery
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Versatile Platelet-Like Cells
Natural platelets are legendary for their versatility. Likewise, our PLCs are designed to harness different and distinct capabilities such as:
- Targeting and clearing unwanted antibodies.
- Delivering specific payloads.
- Initiating and assisting with coagulation.
Because PLCs are anucleate, therapies derived from them will not carry exogenous nuclear DNA into the patient’s body. Using this approach, potential unintended consequences from such exogenous DNA is completely avoided.
Platelets are also naturally immuno-privileged, which:
- Reduces immune system complications.
- Eliminates the need for blood-type matching for most patients.
This underscores the potential for naturally allogeneic PLC-based therapies inspired by platelet biology.
The iPSC Advantage
We start our proprietary process with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which can develop into almost any given cell or tissue in the body, including megakaryocytes. In humans, megakaryocytes naturally produce platelets within the bone marrow. iPSCs provide a consistent, renewable on-demand source material that can be preserved long term and readily engineered for new applications.
Inside our patented platelet bioreactor, we expose our iPSC-derived megakaryocyte-like cells (MLCs) to environmental conditions that mimic those inside of the bone marrow, and this induces the MLCs to produce platelet-like cells (PLCs) that can be collected and stored for multiple therapeutic uses.
Genetically Engineering Platelet-Like Cells
PlateletBio’s platform can produce specialized PLCs by genetically engineering the iPSC to create entirely new cells with enhanced features and novel payloads, such as mAbs, cytokines, therapeutic proteins and nucleic acids. Each finely tuned engineered PLC (ePLC) is a differentiated cell that can deliver targeted, highly effective therapeutic payloads, including combination therapeutics, specific to various diseases. Our scalable platform has the capability to produce various ePLCs.
Pluripotent Stem Cell
eiPSC
eMLC
ePLC
