Liposome Drug Delivery System across Endothelial Plasma Membrane: Role of Distance between Endothelial Cells and Blood Flow Rate

Abstract

This paper discusses specific features of the interactions of small-diameter liposomes with the cytoplasmic membrane of endothelial cells using in silico methods. The movement pattern of the liposomal drug delivery system was modeled in accordance with the conditions of the near-wall layer of blood flow. Our simulation results show that the liposomes can become stuck in the intercellular gaps and even break down when the gap is reduced. Liposomes stuck in the gaps are capable of withstanding a shell deformation of ~15% with an increase in liposome energy by 26%. Critical deformation of the membrane gives an impetus to drug release from the liposome outward. We found that the liposomes moving in the near-wall layer of blood flow inevitably stick to the membrane. Liposome sticking on the membrane is accompanied by its gradual splicing with the membrane bilayer. This leads to a gradual drug release inside the cell.

Keywords

• liposome
• in silico method
• coarse-grained molecular dynamics
• endothelial cells
• intercellular gaps
• membrane bilayer