COVALENT BINDING OF POLY(ETHYLENE GLYCOL) (PEG) TO THE SURFACE OF RED-BLOOD-CELLS INHIBITS AGGREGATION AND REDUCES LOW SHEAR BLOOD-VISCOSITY

A simple method to coat human red blood cells (RBC) with PEG is descri bed. Using a reactive derivative, monomethoxy-PEG (mPEG) was covalentl y attached to the surface of RBC in aqueous media under mild condition s. The PEG coating dramatically reduced aggregation and low shear visc osity of RBC resuspended in autologous plasma, acid inhibited RBC aggl utination by blood group-specific antibodies. Morphology and deformabi lity of the PEG-treated cells were unaltered. The PEG coating of the R BC surface may be of significant benefit in the treatment of a variety of diseases characterized by vasoocclusion or impaired blood flow, e. g., myocardial infarction, sickle cell disease. (C) 1997 Wiley Liss, I nc.