Search

Red blood cells are specialized blood cells responsible for oxygen delivery to tissues and carbon dioxide removal. These cells lack a nucleus and organelles, allowing them to allocate the majority of their energy to their primary functions, with the plasma membrane and underlying cytoskeletal network being their only structural elements. Their membrane is dynamic and provides crucial rheological and physical properties for the survival of erythrocytes in circulation. In its activity is also involved the regulation of intracellular redox metabolism by generating and maintaining the NADPH/NADP+ ratio, which is essential for protection against oxidative damage and the preservation of proper cellular function. Consequently, alterations in these processes, such as enzymopathies, can lead to severe erythrocyte disorders and jeopardize their viability. In this study, NADPH deficiency is chemically simulated through treatment with the oxidizing agent diamide. This approach allows us to perform a comprehensive analysis of the changes and effects induced by diamide on human erythrocytes using a combination of time-lapse microscopy, HPLC and computational image and film processing. The results reveal that diamide has a significant impact on membrane dynamics and NADP+/NADPH levels, which is relevant for future investigations, such as the development of targeted therapies for diseases associated with erythrocyte dysfunction or blood bank storage protocols.

Nanotechnology is an emerging scientific field, gaining more and more relevance each year and its interaction with other fields is leading to the formation and development of new disciplines, such as nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology, which involve the use of nanoparticles. There are many different types of nanoparticles of notable significance, currently in use, in both medicine and nanotechnology but also in the fields of electronics, construction, and environmental sciences, to name but a few. Some of the most important nanoparticles are quantum dots, magnetic nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes and liposomes. Due to their biomedical applications, liposomes have a key role to play and will therefore be discussed in more detail. Various techniques can be used in the production of liposomes, which will determine the final properties of the nanoparticle, and whether it is best suited for one purpose or another. In addition, many different techniques are used in the characterization of liposomes, including the study of the size, lamerallity or electric potential of each. The emphasis of this work regarding the medical applications of liposomes will focus on their role as nanocarriers for drugs, genes, and contrast agents, in both therapy and diagnosis. Liposomes will help to increase the bioavailability of their cargo and pinpoint it to a certain location in the body, through passive or active targeting. Liposomes can also be modified to enable a selective release of their cargo, in response to certain external or internal stimuli. It should be noted that nanoparticles have certain limitations regarding the possible toxic effect they may have on the body, especially through the formation of reactive oxygen species. One particular application of liposomes, explored experimentally, is their functionalization with mannose to allow its intake by brain macrophages while they encapsulate a siRNA, which will regulate the expression of a certain