Programming megakaryocytes to produce engineered platelets for delivering non-native proteins

Abstract

Platelets are anucleate cells naturally filled with secretory granules that store large amounts of protein to be released in response to certain physiological conditions. Cell engineering can endow platelets with the ability to deliver non-native proteins by modifying them as they develop during the cell fate process. This study presents a strategy to efficiently generate mouse platelets from pluripotent stem cells and demonstrates their potential as bioengineered protein delivery platforms. By modifying megakaryocytes, the progenitor cells of platelets, we successfully engineered platelets capable of packaging and delivering non-native proteins. These engineered platelets can offer flexible delivery platforms to release non-native proteins in a controlled manner upon activation when packaged into -granules or deliver active enzymes to genetically alter recipient cells. Our findings highlight platelets as a promising tool for protein delivery in cell therapy applications.