Uptake of Colloidal Polyelectrolyte-Coated Particles and Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Capsules by Living Cells

Rigid particles as well as soft capsules can be ingested by cells and stored in acidic compartments around the nucleus. TEM and fluorescence images show that the rigid particles retain their original spherical shape whereas the hollow and thus more flexible capsules are deformed and squeezed upon the incorporation process. Though soft capsules are deformed upon uptake, the cargo loaded into the capsules is not released into the cytosol.