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This journal is published by the University Library System of the University of Pittsburgh as part  

of its D-Scribe Digital Publishing Program and is cosponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Press. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pharmacokinetic Properties of 

Cytokines in Their Targeted 

Delivery Based on Autologous 

Erythrocyte Pharmacocytes 

 

Zhaxybay Zhumadilov, Kulzhan 

Berikkhanova, Alexander 

Gulyayev, Zarina Shulgau, Dilbar 

Ibrasheva, Zhanybek Bokebaev, 

Nadiar Mussin, Talgat Nurgozhin 

 

Center for Life Sciences, Nazarbayev 

University, Astana, Kazakhstan 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vol. 3, Suppl. (2014)   |   ISSN 2166-7403 (online)    

DOI 10.5195/cajgh.2014.184   |   http://cajgh.pitt.edu 

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ZHUMADILOV 

 

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 United States License. 

 

This journal is published by the University Library System of the University of Pittsburgh as part  

of its D-Scribe Digital Publishing Program and is cosponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Press. 

 

Central Asian Journal of Global Health 

Volume 3, Suppl. (2014)  |  ISSN 2166-7403 (online)  |  DOI 10.5195/cajgh.2014.184  |  http://cajgh.pitt.edu 

  

 

Abstract 

Introduction. Using autologous erythrocytes as drug carriers for targeted delivery of cytokines to the sites of inflammation could 

potentially provide new opportunities for treatment of patients with purulent diseases. The targeted characteristic of erythrocytes 

is associated with the nature of purulent inflammation, where a large amount of erythrocytes is phagocytized and drugs encapsulated 

into the erythrocytes could be easily released. On the other hand, autologous erythrocytes meet all the criteria for the ideal drug 

carrier. They are nontoxic, not immunogenic, and able to bear a large number of drug molecules while preserving an original 

conformation of the drugs. Thus, in this study, we aimed to analyze pharmacokinetic profiles of IL-1β encapsulated into 

erythrocytes’ ghosts (pharmacocytes) in comparison to intravenously injected free IL-1β. 

Material and methods. Albino rats were randomly divided into two groups, each group receiving a different kind of IV injection 

via the tail vein. Group A (control) received 500 µg of free IL-1β, and group B received an injection of 1 ml of pharmacocytes 

loaded with 500 µg of test substance. At fixed time points after injection (15, 30, 60, 180, 540, 720, and 1,440 minutes) serum 

samples were collected. Homogenates of liver, spleen, lung, heart, kidney, and adipose tissue were obtained 24 hours after 

injections. Concentration of the tested substance in the collected organs and blood plasma were measured by ELISA.   

Results. We have observed an increased half-life period (T1/2) for encapsulated IL-1β compared to the control. T1/2 for free IL-

1β was one hour, while administration of loaded pharmacocytes allowed the half-life period to increase by more than 15 fold 

(1,043.40 ± 137.92 min) preserving high level of IL-1β activity in the blood samples up to 24 hours. The increased time of IL-1β 

presence in the body when administered in the form of pharmacocytes could be explained by reduction of elimination constant 

(Cel) by 1.6 fold, and clearance (CLel) by more than 100 fold. We also observed an increased concentration of IL-1β in liver, 

spleen, and lung over at least 24 hours. When administered in free form, IL-1β disappeared from these organs within 6 hours.  

Conclusions. Pharmacocytes have shown to improve pharmacokinetic profiles of IL-1β by increasing the half-life period of the 

cytokine, reducing its clearance and elimination as well as increasing the deposition of the drug in liver, spleen and lungs. These 

data suggest that pharmacocytes be effective drug carriers for targeted delivery of cytokines to the sites of inflammation and have 

a potential for improving the treatment outcomes of purulent diseases. 

Keywords: cytokine delivery, autologous erythrocytes, pharmacocytes 

 

 

 

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