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Stochastic Dynamics of Nanoparticle and Virus Uptake
Felix Frey1, Falko Ziebert1, Ulrich S Schwarz1
1Institute for Theoretical Physics, Heidelberg University, Philosophenweg 19, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany and BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|April 2, 2019
Summary
Cellular uptake of nanoparticles and viruses depends on adhesion energy. Stochastic effects can favor spherical particle uptake over cylindrical ones due to geometry-dependent noise.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Cellular uptake mechanisms are crucial for drug delivery and pathogen entry.
- Particle uptake requires overcoming membrane bending energy, establishing a minimum size for adhesion.
- The role of particle geometry in uptake dynamics is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of particle shape (spherical vs. cylindrical) on cellular uptake rates.
- To analyze the impact of deterministic and stochastic effects on adhesion-driven particle uptake.
- To determine how geometry affects cellular internalization processes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a deterministic theoretical model to analyze particle-membrane interactions.
- Incorporated stochastic effects to account for small system size phenomena.
- Calculated mean first passage times to quantify uptake rates for different geometries.
Main Results:
- Deterministic theory predicts faster uptake for cylindrical particles compared to spherical ones of equal size.
- Stochastic effects reveal that spherical particles can exhibit faster uptake due to multiplicative noise.
- Uptake rates are significantly influenced by particle geometry and the presence of noise.
Conclusions:
- Stochastic effects in cellular uptake are strongly geometry-dependent.
- While deterministic models favor cylinders, noise can make spheres more efficiently internalized.
- Understanding these geometry-dependent stochastic effects is key for optimizing nanoparticle-based delivery systems.
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