title: How shape influences uptake: interactions of anisotropic polymer nanoparticles and human mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: Among several nanoparticle properties, shape is important for their interaction with cells and, therefore, relevant for uptake studies and applications. In order to further investigate such characteristics, fluorescently labeled spherical polymer nanoparticles are synthesized by free-radical polymerization via the miniemulsion process. The spherical nanoparticles are subsequently submitted to controlled mechanical deformation to yield quasi-ellipsoidal polymeric nanoparticles with different aspect ratios. The uptake behaviors of spherical and non-spherical particles with equal volume are investigated qualitatively and quantitatively by electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and flow cytometry measurements. Non-spherical particles show fewer uptake by cells than their spherical counterparts with a negative correlation between aspect ratio and uptake rate. This is attributed to the larger average curvature radius of adsorbed non-spherical particles experienced by the cells.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Florez
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Jens M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: Christoph P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Kaloian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koynov
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Landfester
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crespy
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mailänder
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011108:Polymers