Fig. 10. (A) (a) Strategic fusion mechanism showing gold nanoplating. (b) Microscopic demonstration of RhB-labeled fusogenic liposome fused RBC, phase contrast, fluorescent, and merged images. (c) TEM images of RBC, AuNP, and Au-RBC. Inset of Au-RBC electron micrographs of Au-RBC shows the plating of RBC surface with clusters of 5 nm AuNPs. (d) CT images of pure RBC, Au-RBC, and AuNPs embedded in agarose gel. (e) X-ray attenuation (Housefield Unit, HU) of AuNPs, Au-RBC, RBC (*P < 0.05, student's t-test). Reproduced with permission from ref. 71, copyright: 2017, American Chemical Society. (B) (a) Schematic illustration of the preparation process of AuNPs functionalized with RBC membranes (RBC-AuNPs). (b) Hydrodynamic size (diameter, nm) and surface zeta potential (mV) of AuNPs before and after RBC membrane coating measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). (c) A representative TEM image showing the spherical core–shell structure of the RBC-AuNPs under negative staining with uranyl acetate. (d) Stability of the resulting RBC-AuNPs in 100% serum and 1× PBS, respectively, by monitoring particle size (diameter, nm) over a span of 72 h. (e–g) RBC membrane coating inhibits macrophage uptake. Bright field microscopic images of J774 murine macrophage cells incubated for 30 min in culture medium (e), 25 μg mL⁻¹ RBC-AuNPs (f), and 25 μg mL⁻¹ uncoated AuNPs (g). (h) Quantitative analysis of macrophage uptake of RBC-AuNPs and uncoated AuNPs determined by ICP-MS measurements. Reproduced with permission from ref. 72, copyright: 2013, Wiley.