Modularity of RBC hitchhiking with polymeric nanoparticles: testing the limits of non-covalent adsorption

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Red blood cell (RBC) hitchhiking offers potential for improved drug delivery by enhancing nanoparticle (NP) targeting and reducing clearance.
• A deeper understanding of the RBC-nanoparticle interface is crucial for advancing RBC hitchhiking for clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of NP surface properties and species-specific RBC characteristics on NP adsorption.
• To evaluate how NP design parameters influence RBC hitchhiking efficiency and biocompatibility.
• To explore the role of anticoagulants in RBC-NP interactions for drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Evaluating NP adsorption onto RBCs from rabbits, mice, and humans.
• Assessing NP surface parameters: hydrophobicity, zeta potential, surfactant concentration, and drug encapsulation.
• Analyzing the influence of different anticoagulants on blood storage and NP adsorption.

Main Results:

• Significant variations in NP adsorption were observed due to species-specific differences in RBCs (rabbit, mouse, human).
• Electrostatic interactions were identified as critical for balancing NP adsorption success and biocompatibility.
• NP design parameters, including surface properties and drug loading, significantly affect RBC hitchhiking outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Species-specific RBC characteristics critically influence nanoparticle adsorption for RBC hitchhiking.
• Optimizing NP surface properties, particularly electrostatic interactions, is essential for effective and biocompatible RBC hitchhiking.
• These findings provide valuable insights for designing future nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems utilizing RBC hitchhiking.