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Nanomedicine and Nanoscale Delivery (Focus Group – NND)

Effect of Nanogel Size and Stiffness on Red Blood Cell Interactions and Hemocompatibility

Laís Ribovski – Postdoc, Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology (BBT), University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG); Inge Zuhorn – Prof. Dr., Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology (BBT), University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)
Introduction:

Red blood cells (RBC) influence microvascular blood flow and promote margination of platelets, leukocytes, and nanoparticles (NPs). After systemic administration, NPs can marginate towards vessel walls, enhancing circulation time and therapeutic delivery, particularly when soft. Neutral, soft, hydrophilic NPs may also adsorb to RBCs, facilitating hitchhiking to vascular beds. This study investigates how nanogels (NGs) size and stiffness, affect hemocompatibility and their potential to hitchhike on RBCs to reach target organs.

Learning Objectives:

  • explain how nanogel size and stiffness influence RBC interactions and hemocompatibility.
  • describe how nanoparticle margination and RBC hitchhiking enhance vascular targeting.
  • interpret hemocompatibility data to assess nanogel safety and hemocompatibility.