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微囊泡颗粒在微通道中流动输运的介观尺度模拟研究

MESOSCOPIC SIMULATION OF TRANSPORT DYNAMICS OF MICROVESICLES IN MICROCHANNELS

  • 摘要: 微囊泡作为新一代生物相容性纳米药物载体, 凭借其优异的跨膜传输效率与动态拓扑重构能力, 在靶向给药领域展现出广阔前景. 然而, 现有微颗粒输运理论主要建立在刚性粒子假设基础上, 难以准确描述细胞尺度下柔性微囊泡与流体介质之间的双向流固耦合作用, 导致对微血管网络中输运机制的认识仍不系统. 本研究基于介观尺度耗散粒子动力学方法, 构建了两种具有代表性的微囊泡模型: 流动膜模型(模拟高膜流动性的脂质体类载体)和黏弹性网络模型(模拟高抗变形性的聚合物修饰型载体), 系统研究了几何约束、膜材料力学特性与外部流体力耦合作用下的微囊泡动态形变与输运行为. 通过系列数值模拟, 揭示了微囊泡在受限微通道中呈现的入口拉伸-出口收缩双阶段变形机制, 并建立了最大伸长指数与无量纲约束参数(定义为囊泡初始直径与狭窄通道直径之比)之间的定量关联. 研究发现, 流动膜模型展现出更优异的形状自适应能力, 可通过大变形形成流线型细长结构, 提升在狭窄通道中的通过效率. 特别在强约束条件下, 该模型通过约束区所需的临界流体力明显低于黏弹性网络模型. 这些发现不仅深化了对受限环境中软颗粒输运机理的理解, 更为新一代智能药物递送系统的载体设计与性能优化提供了理论依据和数值模拟支持.

     

    Abstract: As a promising new generation of biocompatible nanocarriers, microvesicles have garnered significant attention in targeted drug delivery owing to their unique capabilities in transmembrane transport and dynamic topological reorganization. However, existing theories of microparticle transport are mostly built on the rigid particle assumption, which fails to capture the bidirectional fluid-membrane coupling behavior of flexible microvesicles at the cellular scale. This limitation has resulted in a lack of systematic understanding regarding their transport mechanisms within complex microvascular networks. To bridge this knowledge gap, the present study employs the mesoscale simulation framework of dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) to develop two structurally and mechanically distinct microvesicle models: a microvesicle with fluidic membrane model (Mv-FMM; emulating liposome-based carriers with high membrane fluidity) and a microvesicle with viscoelastic network model (Mv-VNM; representing polymer-modified carriers with enhanced mechanical robustness). We systematically investigated the dynamic deformation and transport behavior of these microvesicles under the synergistic effects of geometric constraints, membrane mechanical properties, and external hydrodynamic forcing. Through a series of numerical simulations, we identified a consistent two-stage deformation mechanism, characterized by inlet stretching followed by outlet contraction, as microvesicles traverse constricted microchannel segments. Furthermore, a quantitative correlation was established between the maximum elongation index (EI) and the dimensionless confinement parameter \lambda , defined as the ratio of the initial vesicle diameter to the narrow channel diameter. Notably, our results demonstrate that the Mv-FMM exhibits a superior ability to undergo substantial shape adaptation, forming a streamlined elongated morphology that significantly facilitates its transit through narrow passages. As a result, the critical hydrodynamic force required for the Mv-FMM to pass through such constrictions is markedly lower than that for the Mv-VNM, particularly under high confinement conditions. These findings not only advance the fundamental understanding of soft microparticle transport under confinement but also offer valuable theoretical foundations and simulation-based guidance for the rational design and performance optimization of next-generation targeted drug delivery systems.

     

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