Fig. 1. Micron-sized particles decrease platelet-leukocyte aggregate adhesion to an inflamed endothelium.

a Representative images of adherent platelets (red) and leukocytes (unstained) to inflamed, damaged HUVEC monolayer in the absence (left) or presence (right) of 1 × 10⁷/mL 2 µm IgG-conjugated polystyrene particles. b Impact of 2 µm IgG-conjugated model polystyrene particles on platelet adhesion and leukocyte adhesion to an inflamed, damaged endothelium in whole blood flow compared to non-particle controls. c Schematic detailing the mechanism of reducing platelet-leukocyte aggregates to inflamed endothelium in vitro due to micron-sized, untargeted polymeric particles. d Impact of 2 µm IgG-conjugated polystyrene particles on platelet adhesion to inflamed, damaged endothelium with leukocytes removed from blood, and (e) Change in platelet (left) and leukocyte (right) adhesion to endothelium after blocking E-selectin. N = 5 independent donors were utilized for each particle treatment (b, d) or blocking treatment (e) with 2 replicates per donor utilized for each (non-treatment) control. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA (d) with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test or two-way ANOVA (a, c) with Sidak’s multiple comparison tests. For (a) and (c), (*) indicates p < 0.05, and (****) indicates p < 0.0001 in comparison to no particle controls. For (d), (**) indicates p < 0.01 and (****) indicates p < 0.0001 in comparison to no blocking controls and (#) and (####) in comparison to IgG1 controls. Lack of symbols indicates no statistical significance. Circles represent individual data points, horizontal bar represents the average of individual data points, error bars represent standard error, and scale bar = 100 µm. Source data and specific p-values are provided as a Source Data file.