Fibrin nanoparticles and uses thereof

A method for preparing fibrin nanoparticles comprising the steps of:

• (i) mixing an aqueous solution comprising fibrinogen, thrombin and Factor XIII in an oil emulsion at a temperature of 50-80° C., without the addition of an exogenous chemical cross-linking agent, until fibrin microbeads are formed in the mixture;
• (ii) homogenizing the mixture to form fibrin nanoparticles having a mean diameter of 200-2000 nm in the mixture;
• and (iii) isolating fibrin nanoparticles having a mean diameter of 200-2000 nm from the mixture.

A composition comprising fibrin nanoparticles and an agent, wherein the agent is admixed with the fibrin nanoparticles.

A composition comprising fibrin particles and an agent, wherein the agent is coupled to the amine or carboxy moieties on the surface of the fibrin particles.

A method for coupling an agent to a fibrin particle comprising contacting the fibrin particle with the agent under conditions permitting the formation of a complex between the agent and the fibrin particle, and isolating the complex.

A method for introducing an agent into a cell comprising contacting the cell with a composition comprising fibrin nanoparticles and an agent, wherein the agent is admixed with the fibrin nanoparticles or coupled to the amine or carboxy moieties on the surface of the fibrin nanoparticles, so that the nanoparticles and the agent are introduced into the cell.

A method for isolating stem and/or progenitor cells from a biological sample comprising stem and/or progenitor cells, said method comprising the steps of:

• contacting the biological sample with fibrin particles so that the fibrin particles bind to the stem and/or progenitor cells present in the biological sample, and isolating the fibrin particles bound to the stem and/or progenitor cells from the biological sample.

A composition comprising fibrin particles bound to stem and/or progenitor cells.