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Exploring the influence of silicon oxide microchips shape on cellular uptake using imaging flow cytometry
Gordon Bruce1, Saman Bagherpour2,3, Marta Duch4
1Division of Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2, UK.
Mikrochimica Acta
|August 21, 2024
Summary
Particle shape significantly influences cellular uptake for drug delivery micro-carriers. Non-spherical microchips, like cuboids and pyramids, show comparable phagocytosis to spheres, highlighting their potential for targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Micro- and nano-carriers are crucial for drug delivery, with particle shape impacting biodistribution and cellular interactions.
- Accurate analysis of microparticle cellular uptake faces methodological challenges, balancing imaging detail with high-throughput quantification.
- Imaging flow cytometry offers a solution by combining high-resolution imaging with flow cytometry's efficiency for single-cell quantitative analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of microparticle shape on cellular uptake using non-spherical silicon oxide microchips.
- To compare the cellular uptake of cuboid and apex-truncated square pyramid microchips with spherical particles.
- To evaluate the utility of imaging flow cytometry for analyzing particle shape-dependent cellular interactions.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of fluorescently labelled silicon oxide microchips with varying morphologies (cuboids, pyramids) using photolithography.
- Utilisation of imaging flow cytometry to quantify cellular uptake in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.
- Analysis of uptake rates and particle internalization based on particle shape, dose, and cell stimulation.
Main Results:
- Phagocytosis of microparticles was observed for all tested shapes (cuboids, pyramids, spheres).
- Increasing particle dose significantly enhanced cellular uptake.
- At a 10:1 particle:cell ratio, uptake reached approximately 50% of cells, with 1-1.5 particles internalized per cell across different shapes.
Conclusions:
- Microparticle shape is a key factor influencing cellular uptake dynamics in drug delivery.
- Non-spherical micro-carriers, including cuboids and pyramids, demonstrate significant cellular uptake potential comparable to spheres.
- These findings support the development of diverse micro-carrier morphologies for advanced and precise drug delivery applications.
Keywords:
Cellular uptakeFluorescence labelFunctionalizationImaging flow cytometryMicrofabricationSilicon oxide microchips
