A red blood cell (RBC) having an agent linked thereto, wherein the agent is linked to at least one endogenous, non-engineered membrane protein of the RBC by a sortase-mediated reaction, preferably by a sortase-mediated glycine conjugation and/or a sortase-mediated lysine side chain ε-amino group conjugation, which may occurring at least on glycine (n) and/or lysine ε-amino group at internal sites of the extracellular domain of at least one endogenous, non-engineered membrane protein, preferably n being 1 or 2, as well as the use of the RBC for delivering drugs and probes.

The present disclosure provides methods for increasing the quantity and/or the ratios of erythroblasts, reticulocytes, and/or erythrocytes, or progenitors thereof, in which any of these cells express HbF (e.g. HbF.sup.+ and/or HbF.sup.high cells). The present disclosure further provides methods for treating diseases or disorders characterized by, for example, oxygen delivery deficiencies and/or reduced expression and/or activity of hemoglobin. Such diseases, without limitation, are mitigated by therapeutic reactivation of HbF.

A blood isolation and extraction method includes: providing a predetermined amount of blood; utilizing a platelet filter unit to filter the predetermined amount of blood to generate a filtered blood; utilizing a plasma separation unit to divide the filtered blood into a plasma layer and a blood cell layer for separating blood cells from blood plasma; and extracting the blood plasma from the plasma layer and the blood cells from the blood cell layer. In another embodiment, the blood isolation and extraction method further includes: providing a platelet-washing unit to wash the platelet filter unit with a solution to produce a platelet solution; and mixing the platelet solution with the blood plasma to produce a platelet and plasma mixed solution.

Disclosed herein are methods for producing red blood cells (RBCs) from a population of stem cells and/or progenitor cells. In at least one of the stem cells or progenitor cells, SH2B3 protein activity is decreased, SH2B3 mRNA level is decreased, and/or SH2B3 protein level is decreased. The methods provided herein permit the production of RBCs with increased quantity and/or quality as compared to a method using the same population of stem cells and/or progenitor cells without SH2B3 inhibition or disruption. Also provided herein are methods of use of the RBCs produced using the methods described herein.

The present invention relates to a method for in vitro expansion of mature erythroid cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for obtaining concentrated erythrocytes by culturing erythroid cells at high density so as to allow the cells to physically and directly come in contact with each other. Particularly, the method of the present invention is very useful in that it is possible to obtain a large amount of clinically useful concentrated erythrocytes through a small container such as a test tube-sized bioreactor.

The present invention relates to processes and systems for preparing nanoparticles, cellular or viral membranes and/or cellular or viral membrane coated nanoparticles using or comprising, inter alia, a multi-inlet vortexing reactor, tangential flow filtration (TFF) and/or a high shear fluid processor such as a microfluidizer (or a microfluidizer processor). The present invention also relates to the nanoparticles, cellular or viral membranes and/or cellular or viral membrane coated nanoparticles prepared by the present processes and systems, and the uses and/or applications of the nanoparticles, cellular or viral membranes and/or cellular or viral membrane coated nanoparticles.

The present invention features compositions and methods for editing deleterious mutations associated with hemoglobinopathies, such as sickle cell disease (SCD). In particular embodiments, the invention provides methods for correcting mutations in a beta globin polynucleotide using modified adenosine base editors termed “ABE8” having unprecedented levels (e.g., >60-70%) of efficiency.

The present invention relates to the in vitro production of erythrocytes/granulocytes and to the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome using a method for inducing hemoblast differentiation. The present invention provides a media composition comprising gelsolin as an active ingredient for inducing the differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells into erythrocytes/granulocytes, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising gelsolin as an active ingredient for treating myelodysplastic syndrome. Since the composition of the present invention improves the efficiency of differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells into erythrocytes/granulocytes while maintaining a low rate of occurrence of cell dysplasia and having the effect of improving the enucleation rate and cell survivability, the present invention can be effectively used for producing erythrocytes/granulocytes in vitro and for treating myelodysplastic syndrome.

Methods for extending the shelf life of donor blood and/or red blood cells (RBC) with a cyclodextrin composition are described. The cyclodextrin composition contains at least one cyclodextrin complexed with at least one exogenous lipid. Also described are such treated donor blood and/or RBC.

Methods for inducing human erythroid progenitor cells from hematopoietic stem cells are provided using chemically-defined culture media. Erythroid progenitors generated by the methods include megakaryocyte/erythroid progenitor cells (MEP cells) and CD71+CD235+CD34− erythroid cells, which can be further differentiated into red blood cells. Culture media, isolated cell populations and kits are also provided.