Abstract
Cellular internalization of inorganic, lipidic and polymeric nanoparticles is of great significance in the quest to develop effective formulations for the treatment of high morbidity rate diseases. Understanding nanoparticle–cell interactions plays a key role in therapeutic interventions, and it continues to be a topic of great interest to both chemists and biologists. The mechanistic evaluation of cellular uptake is quite complex and is continuously being aided by the design of nanocarriers with desired physico-chemical properties. The progress in biomedicine, including enhancing the rate of uptake by the cells, is being made through the development of structure–property relationships in nanoparticles. We summarize here investigations related to transport pathways through active and passive mechanisms, and the role played by physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles, including size, geometry or shape, core-corona structure, surface chemistry, ligand binding and mechanical effects, in influencing intracellular delivery. It is becoming clear that designing nanoparticles with specific surface composition, and engineered physical and mechanical characteristics, can facilitate their internalization more efficiently into the targeted cells, as well as enhance the rate of cellular uptake.
Highlights
The past two decades have witnessed the development of state-of-the-art nanotechnology, with the emergence of its demonstrated potential in biosciences [1]
Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations have suggested that hydrophobic NPs enter the lipophilic core of cell membranes, while semi-hydrophilic NPs can be adsorbed on the surface of the membrane bilayer
These results indirectly demonstrate that endocytosis is the main mechanism for cellular uptake of semi-hydrophilic NPs [98]
Summary
The past two decades have witnessed the development of state-of-the-art nanotechnology, with the emergence of its demonstrated potential in biosciences [1]. Active transport pathways include endocytosis, exocytosis and ion pumps, and channels [12]. To enhance the delivery, it is desired to design NPs with a negative surface charge, to prevent the accelerated blood efficiency targeted uptake and drug delivery, it is molecules desired to design. A positive surface molecules and particles upon administration can be rapidly cleared from the blood, by the kidney charge of NPs increases cell affinity and uptake in diseased tissues, by the enhanced permeability and and liver (EPR). Intracellular transport pathways, and subsequently bring into focus the role played by the physicochemical properties, including size, shape, surface chemistry, ligand binding, and mechanical attributes of a variety of nanoparticles, on their intracellular fate
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