The use of red blood cells (RBCs) as drug carriers marks a significant advancement in modern pharmaceutical research, offering improved treatment effectiveness across various medical fields. RBCs possess vital physiological characteristics, such as the ability to renew frequently, transport oxygen, maintain a unique shape, and exhibit membrane flexibility, making them ideal and versatile carriers for drugs within the body.A successful method has been developed for loading various antibiotics and cytokines into erythrocytes to target inflammation sites in the body.These drug-loaded RBCs, created through the process of hypo-osmotic hemolysis, are commonly known as "pharmacocytes." Microphotographs showing the morphological changes in erythrocytes during drug encapsulation have been captured using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, comparative studies on the biopharmaceutical parameters of erythrocyte carriers loaded with drugs were conducted using equilibrium dialysis. This method allowed for the determination of association/dissociation constants and dynamic stability over 24 hours. The data suggest that pharmacocytes can serve as effective drug carriers for the targeted delivery of cytokines and antibiotics to inflammation sites, potentially improving treatment outcomes for various diseases. Experimental results indicate that using targeted drug delivery systems based on autologous erythrocytes could offer a new approach for treating inflammation in the body.

Berikkhanova Kulzhan is MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Leading Researcher at the National Laboratory Astana of Nazarbayev University. She has more than 24 years’ experience of a highly qualified surgeon, including clinical experience in the treatment of purulent wounds, as a researcher - 18 years. Her research interests are focused on targeted drug delivery, cellular technology, regenerative medicine, acceleration of healing of purulent wounds. She has 70 scientific publications, including articles in international scientific journals, 1 textbook, 1 monograph, 6 patents. She introduced into clinical practice an innovative method for treatment of purulent wounds, peritonitis using targeted delivery of antibiotics in pharmacocytes.