Effect of interactions on the cellular uptake of nanoparticles

Abstract

We present a simple two-state model to understand the size-dependent endocytosis of nanoparticles. Using this model, we elucidate the relevant energy terms required to understand the size-dependent uptake mechanism and verify it by correctly predicting the behavior at large and small particle sizes. In the absence of interactions between the nanoparticles we observe an asymmetric distribution of sizes with maximum uptake at intermediate sizes and a minimum size cut-off below which there can be no endocytosis. Including the effect of interactions in our model has remarkable effects on the uptake characteristics. Attractive interactions shift the minimum size cut-off and increase the optimal uptake while repulsive interactions make the distribution more symmetric lowering the optimal uptake.

9 pages, 4 figures

References in corpus (3)

• Interface mediated interactions between particles -- a geometrical approach
• Geometry of surface mediated interactions
• Mechanisms of receptor/coreceptor-mediated entry of enveloped viruses

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Wrapping of ellipsoidal nano-particles by fluid membranes
• Controlling cargo trafficking in multicomponent membranes
• Steric interactions between mobile ligands facilitate complete wrapping in passive endocytosis
• Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis of a Cylindrical Nanoparticle in the Presence of Cytoskeleton Substrate