Probing the Interaction Between Supercarrier RBC Membrane and Nanoparticles for Optimal Drug Delivery

Shuo Wang; Shuhao Ma; Rongxin Li; Xiaojing Qi; Keqin Han; Ling Guo; Xuejin Li

doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167539

Probing the Interaction Between Supercarrier RBC Membrane and Nanoparticles for Optimal Drug Delivery

J Mol Biol. 2023 Jan 15;435(1):167539. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167539. Epub 2022 Mar 12.

Authors

Shuo Wang¹, Shuhao Ma¹, Rongxin Li², Xiaojing Qi¹, Keqin Han¹, Ling Guo³, Xuejin Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Department of Engineering Mechanics, and Center for X-Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China.
² Mathematics and Science College, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, PR China.
³ Mathematics and Science College, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, PR China. Electronic address: lguo@shnu.edu.cn.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Department of Engineering Mechanics, and Center for X-Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China. Electronic address: xuejin_li@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 35292348
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167539

Abstract

Red blood cell (RBC) membrane-hitchhiking nanoparticles (NPs) have been an increasingly popular supercarrier for targeted drug delivery. However, the kinetic details of the shear-induced NP detachment process from RBC in blood flow remain unclear. Here, we perform detailed computational simulations of the traversal dynamics of an RBC-NP composite supercarrier with tunable properties. We show that the detachment of NPs from RBC occurs in a shear-dependent manner which is consistent with previous experiment results. We quantify the NP detachment rate in the microcapillary flow, and our simulation results suggest that there may be an optimal adhesion strength span of 25-40 μJ/m² for rigid spherical NPs to improve the supercarrier performance and targeting efficiency. In addition, we find that the stiffness and the shape of NPs alter the detachment efficiency by changing the RBC-NP contact areas. Together, these findings provide unique insights into the shear-dependent NP release from the RBC surface, facilitating the clinical utility of RBC-NP composite supercarriers in targeted and localized drug delivery with high precision and efficiency.

Keywords: drug delivery; membrane; nanoparticle; red blood cell; shear stress.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Computer Simulation
Drug Carriers* / chemistry
Erythrocyte Membrane* / chemistry
Kinetics
Nanoparticles* / chemistry
Shear Strength
Stress, Mechanical

Substances

Drug Carriers