A double-edged sword: The complex interplay between engineered nanoparticles and platelets.

Nanoparticles (NP) play a crucial role in nanomedicine, serving as carriers for localized therapeutics to allow for precise drug delivery to specific disease sites and conditions. When injected systemically, NP can directly interact with various blood cell types, most critically with circulating platelets. Hence, the potential activation/inhibition of platelets following NP exposure must be evaluated a priori due to possible debilitating outcomes.

Endothelial Cell Activation in an Embolic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Microfluidic Model.

Ischemia, lack of blood supply, is associated with a variety of life-threatening cardiovascular diseases, including acute ischemic stroke and myocardial infraction. While blood flow restoration is critical to prevent further damage, paradoxically, rapid reperfusion can increase tissue damage. A variety of animal models have been developed to investigate ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), however they do not fully recapitulate human physiology of IRI.