How nanoparticles can induce dimerization and aggregation of cells in blood or lymph

By analogy with virions, the binding of biologically-inspired nanoparticles (NPs) with ligands to the cellular membrane containing receptors depends on the multivalent ligand-receptor interaction, membrane bending, and cytoskeleton deformation. The interplay of these factors results in the existence of the potential minimum and activation barrier on the pathway towards full absorption of a NP. Herein, I hypothesize and show theoretically that the interaction of a NP, bound to one cell, with another cell can stabilize the potential minimum and increase the corresponding activation barrier, i.e., NPs can mediate the formation of long-living pairs of cells and aggregates containing a few cells inside blood and lymphatic vessels.