Senticell Raises $7M Seed to Advance RBC-Based Liquid Biopsy Diagnostics

Philadelphia-based biotechnology company Senticell has raised $7 million in seed funding to advance its liquid biopsy platform, which leverages red blood cell (RBC)-bound nucleic acids for disease detection. The round was led by Capital Factory, with participation from Evoce Capital, The Venture City, and Scalpel Ventures.

What Senticell Does

Senticell is developing a new class of liquid biopsy diagnostics built on nucleic acids bound to red blood cells. The platform is exclusively licensed from the University of Pennsylvania, where research by scientific co-founder Nilam Mangalmurti demonstrated that RBCs bind and retain disease-associated DNA and RNA. This enables detection of signals such as oncogenic driver mutations that may be missed by plasma-based liquid biopsies.

Initially focused on oncology, Senticell is conducting prospective clinical studies at Penn Medicine. The company is also exploring infectious-disease applications, including rapid pathogen detection for sepsis and pneumonia.

Funding Details

The seed round was announced on September 1, 2026. The funding will support the continued development of Senticell's diagnostic platform and its clinical studies.

Investors

• Capital Factory (lead)
• Evoce Capital
• The Venture City
• Scalpel Ventures

About the Company

Senticell is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, and operates in the biotechnology sector. Its innovative approach to liquid biopsy could improve the detection of cancer and infectious diseases, offering a potential complement to existing diagnostic methods.