Influence of the glycocalyx and plasma membrane composition on amphiphilic gold nanoparticle association with erythrocytes. Issue 26 (16th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Atukorale, Prabhani U.; Yang, Yu-Sang; Bekdemir, Ahmet; Carney, Randy P.; Silva, Paulo J.; Watson, Nicki; Stellacci, Francesco; Irvine, Darrell J.
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 7:Issue 26(2015)
• Page Start: 11420
• Page End: 11432
• Publication Date: 2015-06-16
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c5nr01355k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : Amphiphilic gold nanoparticles spontaneously insert into erythrocyte membranes; we characterize this association as a function of key plasma membrane components. Abstract : Erythrocytes are attractive as potential cell-based drug carriers because of their abundance and long lifespan in vivo . Existing methods for loading drug cargos into erythrocytes include hypotonic treatments, electroporation, and covalent attachment onto the membrane, all of which require ex vivo manipulation. Here, we characterized the properties of amphiphilic gold nanoparticles (amph-AuNPs), comprised of a ∼2.3 nm gold core and an amphiphilic ligand shell, which are able to embed spontaneously within erythrocyte membranes and might provide a means to load drugs into red blood cells (RBCs) directly in vivo . Particle interaction with RBC membranes occurred rapidly at physiological temperature. We further show that amph-AuNP uptake by RBCs was limited by the glycocalyx and was particularly influenced by sialic acids on cell surface proteoglycans. Using a reductionist model membrane system with synthetic lipid vesicles, we confirmed the importance of membrane fluidity and the glycocalyx in regulating amph-AuNP/membrane interactions. These results thus provide evidence for the interaction of amph-AuNPs with erythrocyte membranes and identify key membrane components that govern this interaction, providing a framework for the development of amph-AuNP-carrying erythrocyte 'pharmacytes' in vivo .