Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis of Nanoparticles: Roles of Shapes, Orientations, and Rotations of Nanoparticles

Abstract

A complete understanding of the interactions between nanoparticles (NPs) and the cell membrane is essential for the potential biomedical applications of NPs. The rotation of the NP during the cellular wrapping process is of great biological significance and has been widely observed in experiments and simulations. However, the underlying mechanisms of the rotation and their potential influences on the wrapping behavior are far from being fully understood. Here, by coupling the rotation of the NP with the diffusion of the receptors, we set up a model to theoretically investigate the wrapping pathway and the internalization rate of the rotatable NP in the receptor-mediated endocytosis. Based on this model, it is found that the endocytosis proceeds through the symmetric-asymmetric or asymmetric-symmetric-asymmetric wrapping pathway due to the bending and membrane tension competition induced rotation of NP. In addition, we show that the wrapping rate in the direction that the wrapping proceeds can be largely accelerated by the rotation. Moreover, the time to fully wrap the NP depends not only on the size and shape of the NP but also on its rotation and initial orientation. These results reveal the roles of the shape, rotation, and initial orientation of the NP on the receptor-mediated endocytosis and may provide guidelines for the design of NP-based drug delivery systems.

Recent Advances in Polymeric Nanoparticle-Encapsulated Drugs against Intracellular Infections

“…Furthermore, the shape can affect nanosystem phagocytosis by macrophages, i.e., the nanoparticle-cell contact point determines whether macrophages initiate internalization or are simply spread on nanosystems in which the Ω angle is a crucial criterion ( Figure 6 d). The spherical shape is then an ideal shape to induce phagocytosis of the nanosystem since it has Ω angle of less than 45° [ 268 , 270 ].…”

Investigation of cellular uptake mechanism of functionalised gold nanoparticles into breast cancer using SERS

“…15 It has been shown that the energy-dependent endocytosis pathways, rather than passive diffusion, are the main mechanisms that cell lines use for nanoparticle uptake. 16,17 Specically, receptormediated endocytosis (RME) is known to be one of the main uptake pathways for AuNPs. For RME, the biomolecules attached to the AuNP surface bind to the extracellular surface of the plasma membrane receptor and membrane fusion is induced.…”

Size Limit and Energy Analysis of Nanoparticles during Wrapping Process by Membrane

“…The effects of membrane curvature, particle shape and orientation, and interactions between NPs on the wrapping process are not considered. Fortunately, the effects of these factors have been discussed in the existing literature [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Remarkably, Tang et al recently formulated a model to theoretically investigate the effects of the particle shape and orientation, and interactions between NPs, on wrapping process.…”

“…Remarkably, Tang et al recently formulated a model to theoretically investigate the effects of the particle shape and orientation, and interactions between NPs, on wrapping process. Their results revealed the roles of the shape, rotation, and initial orientation of the NP, and interactions between NPs, on receptor-mediated endocytosis, and provide good guidelines for the design of NP-based drug delivery systems [ 30 , 31 ].…”