The Importance of Particle Geometry in Design of Therapeutic and Imaging Nanovectors

Abstract

One of the main objectives in nanomedicine is to enable specific delivery of therapeutics and imaging agents to the disease loci. While previously the main tool for targeting was incorporating entities with biological recognition on the surface of the nanovector, recently, the focus has shifted to the ability of the physical characteristics of particles to guide them crossing numerous barriers to the site of action. In this chapter we will focus on how the geometry of nanovectors affects their interaction with biological milieu, and as a result their therapeutic and diagnostic potential. The chapter is divided into sections describing interactions of various particles with extracellular components, whole cells and various cell organelles. In the intracellular interactions subsection, we focus on the initial interaction between particle and cell membrane, the uptake mechanism and intracellular trafficking of particles with various geometries. Furthermore, the importance of charge density and the zeta potential parameter is discussed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of challenges and outlook on future developments of theranostic particle delivery using particle geometry as the rational design feature.