Low modulus biomimetic microgel particles with high loading of hemoglobin

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing effective oxygen carriers is crucial for blood substitutes.
• Red blood cells (RBCs) are highly efficient due to their unique properties.
• Mimicking RBCs requires precise control over size, shape, and deformability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize deformable microgel particles mimicking RBCs for oxygen transport.
• To load these particles with bovine hemoglobin (Hb) for enhanced oxygen-carrying capacity.
• To evaluate the properties and performance of these artificial RBCs.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of microgel particles using particle replication in nonwetting templates (PRINT) technique.
• Loading bovine hemoglobin (Hb) via covalent conjugation using EDC/NHS coupling.
• Characterization using confocal microscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy.
• Assessment of particle deformability and rheological properties in microfluidic devices.

Main Results:

• Synthesized RBC-like microgel particles with high Hb loading capacity (up to 5x polymer weight).
• Confirmed uniform Hb distribution within particles and preservation of Hb secondary structure.
• Demonstrated excellent particle deformability, enabling passage through narrow constrictions.
• Achieved blood-like viscosity and particle stability under high shear stress.

Conclusions:

• Successfully created Hb-loaded microgel particles that mimic RBCs in size, shape, and deformability.
• These artificial RBCs exhibit functional oxygen binding and favorable rheological properties.
• The developed technology offers a promising platform for the development of artificial blood.