Flow-Induced Shape Reconfiguration, Phase Separation, and Rupture of Bio-Inspired Vesicles

ACS Nano. 2017 Jul 25;11(7):6661-6671. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.7b00753. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

Abstract

The structural integrity of red blood cells and drug delivery carriers through blood vessels is dependent upon their ability to adapt their shape during their transportation. Our goal is to examine the role of the composition of bio-inspired multicomponent and hairy vesicles on their shape during their transport through in a channel. Through the dissipative particle dynamics simulation technique, we apply Poiseuille flow in a cylindrical channel. We investigate the effect of flow conditions and concentration of key molecular components on the shape, phase separation, and structural integrity of the bio-inspired multicomponent and hairy vesicles. Our results show the Reynolds number and molecular composition of the vesicles impact their flow-induced deformation, phase separation on the outer monolayer due to the Marangoni effect, and rupture. The findings from this study could be used to enhance the design of drug delivery and tissue engineering systems.

Keywords: Poiseuille flow; bio-inspired vesicles; dissipative particle dynamics; hairy lipids; rupture; shape recognition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / chemistry*
  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry*
  • Cell Shape
  • Cholesterol / chemistry
  • Computer Simulation
  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Erythrocytes / chemistry
  • Erythrocytes / cytology
  • Glycolipids / chemistry
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Liposomes / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Phase Transition*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Glycolipids
  • Liposomes
  • 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Cholesterol
  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine