Adhesion of nanocarriers to endothelial cells under flow

Design of nanocarriers (NCs) for targeted drug delivery to endothelial cells is a biomedical and pharmacological challenge. Different surface chemistry of functional NCs, like homogenous (Homo) and Janus nanoparticles, provide different opportunities for loading multiple drugs and accurately control targeting and cargo release. Herein, using Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) simulations we study flow past the chains of the endothelial glycocalyx (EG) layer and the receptors in a microchannel. We also investigate the effect of flow on morphology and dynamics of the EG layer and adhesion of NCs to the receptors. Using a energy calculation method, we systematically explore the adhesion of Homo and Janus NCs to the endothelial cell through calculation of the energy gains and losses as a function of a series of effects, such as the initial orientation, ligand density, shape, and size of NCs. Finally, we compare the state under flow with the equilibrium state.