Study of mutual interaction of red blood cells influenced by nanoparticles utilizing a combined use of optical tweezers and scanning electron microscopy (Conference Presentation)

Abstract

Despite the extensive studies of different types of nanoparticles as potential drug carriers, application of red blood cells (RBC) as natural transport agents for systemic drug delivery, is considered as a new paradigm in modern medicine and possesses great potential. There is a lack of studies on influence of drug carriers of different composition on RBC, especially regarding their potential impact to the human health. Here, we apply conventional microscopy to observe formation of RBC aggregates and the optical tweezers to assess quantitatively mutual interaction of RBC, incubated with inorganic and polymeric nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy is utilized for direct observation of nanoparticles localization on RBC membranes. The experiments performed in a platelet-free blood plasma mimicking RBC natural environment. We show that nanodiamonds influence mutual RBC interaction more antagonistically compared to other nanoparticles, resulting in higher aggregation forces and formation of larger cell aggregates. In contrast, polymeric particles do not cause anomalous RBC aggregation. The results emphasize application of optical tweezers for direct quantitative assessment of mutual interaction of RBC influenced by nanomaterials.