Hemocompatibility and Hemolytic Effects of Functionalized Nanoparticles on Red Blood Cells: A Recent Review Study

In this paper (from 2010 to 2020), the effects of polymeric, metallic and nonmetallic nanoparticles on red blood cells' hemocompatibility were investigated for the first time. Here, we have considered the latest findings which can help to improve the hemocompatibility of RBCs. It is important to maintain the quality of red blood cells for improving the hemocompatibility because blood products directly affect the health of patients after blood transfusion. Although RBCs can be stored for up to 42 days at 2-6(circle)C, hypothermic storage lesions (HSLs) are very common in these products. This problem affects the quality of RBC products. Thus, it is necessary to modify the surface molecules of RBCs during storage time to reduce HSLs and alloimmunization complications. Therefore, we reviewed the reported effects of polymeric, metallic and carbon-based nanoparticles on RBCs between 2010 and 2020. The results of our study have shown that the use of negatively charged dendrimers, unsaturated/uncharged liposomes, and PEGylated forms of NPs and RBCs are the best approaches to improve the hemocompatibility conditions of red blood cells. However, large cationic dendrimers, liposomes composed of saturated lipid with long acyl chain, and cationic chitosan nanoparticles have less RBC compatibility. In addition, polymeric nanoparticles have more capacity for surface modification, which makes it possible to make more hemocompatible derivatives. Among metallic nanoparticles, gold and iron nanoparticles were more RBC compatible. However, the smaller size, higher concentration and longer exposure time of these nanoparticles can induce hemolysis and morphological changes in RBCs. On the other side, nonmetallic nanoparticles mostly had poor RBC compatibility, but their effects on RBCs strongly depended on their concentration and physicochemical properties and could be controllable. As a result, the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG), gold, polymeric, and iron nanoparticles in the design of protocols to maintain the survival, structure and activity of red blood cells for improving hemocompatibility can be more effective. While nanoparticles such as unsaturated liposomes, metalic nanoparticles (Au and Fe3O4) and PEG are effective to design protocols to maintain the survival, structure and activity of red blood cells (RBCs) for improving the RBC hemocompatibility, nanoparticles with positive charge such as PAMAM dendrimer have less RBC hemocompatibility.

Automated summary

This paper investigated the effects of polymeric, metallic, and nonmetallic nanoparticles on red blood cells' hemocompatibility from 2010 to 2020. Modifying the surface molecules of red blood cells during storage time to reduce hypothermic storage lesions (HSLs) and alloimmunization complications is necessary for improving hemocompatibility. The use of negatively charged dendrimers, unsaturated/uncharged liposomes, and PEGylated forms of nanoparticles and red blood cells are effective approaches to enhance the hemocompatibility conditions of red blood cells.