Figure 4.

(a-c) RBCs were incubated with BODIPY-MUS:OT 2:1 amph-AuNPs (batch B, 0.08 mg/mL) for 1 hr at 22°C and then analyzed for nanoparticle association by flow cytometry. (a) RBCs were treated with enzymes removing sialic acids or the entire glycocalyx prior to NP incubation. (b) RBCs were treated with trypsin and chymotrypsin to remove cell surface glycoproteins prior to NP incubation. (c) RBCs were treated with drugs increasing or decreasing membrane tension prior to NP incubation. Statistics were performed with a one-way ANOVA test, followed by Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test (P < 0.05 is significant, *** indicates P < 0.0001). All experiments were performed with at least 3 biological replicates per condition. (d) Cell electron micrograph of unlabeled 1:1 MUS:OT amph-AuNPs (batch C, incubated for 1 hr at 37°C) as they interacted with erythrocytes that had their glycocalyx stripped, scale bar 200 nm.