Polymer Microparticles Exhibit Size and Shape Dependent Accumulation around the Nucleus after Endocytosis

Abstract

Abstract Particulate drug delivery has received significant attention in the last few decades. The effect of particle properties such as size, shape and surface properties on particle‐cell interaction has been studied. Here, intracellular accumulation and subsequent spatial segregation of spherical and rod shaped microparticles is investigated. It is observed that both spherical and rod shaped particles exhibit perinuclear accumulation. However, when the cells are fed with binary mixtures of particles, they spatially segregate in the cytoplasm based on their shape and size. Larger particles exhibit preferential accumulation closer to the nucleus. These results have potential implications in understanding the biophysical forces operating in the cells that impact the intracellular organization of drug carriers as well as organelles.