| Title: |
Shear-Induced Encapsulation into Red Blood Cells: A New Microfluidic Approach to Drug Delivery. |
| Authors: |
Piergiovanni, Monica, Casagrande, Giustina, Taverna, Francesca, Corridori, Ilaria, Frigerio, Marta, Bianchi, Elena, Arienti, Flavio, Mazzocchi, Arabella, Dubini, Gabriele, Costantino, Maria Laura |
| Source: |
Annals of Biomedical Engineering; Jan2020, Vol. 48 Issue 1, p236-246, 11p, 1 Diagram, 2 Charts, 5 Graphs |
| Abstract: |
Encapsulating molecules into red blood cells (RBCs) is a challenging topic for drug delivery in clinical practice, allowing to prolong the residence time in the body and to avoid toxic residuals. Fluidic shear stress is able to temporary open the membrane pores of RBCs, thus allowing for the diffusion of a drug in solution with the cells. In this paper, both a computational and an experimental approach were used to investigate the mechanism of shear-induced encapsulation in a microchannel. By means of a computational fluid dynamic model of a cell suspension, it was possible to calculate an encapsulation index that accounts for the effective shear acting on the cells, their distribution in the cross section of the microchannel and their velocity. The computational model was then validated with micro-PIV measurements on a RBCs suspension. Finally, experimental tests with a microfluidic channel showed that, by choosing the proper concentration and fluid flow rate, it is possible to successfully encapsulate a test molecule (FITC-Dextran, 40 kDa) into human RBCs. Cytofluorimetric analysis and confocal microscopy were used to assess the RBCs physiological shape preservation and confirm the presence of fluorescent molecules inside the cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|
Copyright of Annals of Biomedical Engineering is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| Database: |
Complementary Index |
