In silico insights into the receptor-mediated endocytosis of virus-like nanoparticles

To provide insights into the receptor-mediated endocytosis of virus-like nanoparticles (VLPs), we carried out a series of in silico dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations on the interaction of lipid membrane and VLPs with varying spike length and spike number. Of great interest is that the VLP endocytosis is facilitated by short spikes but hindered by long spikes, showing a "biphasic effect". With scrutinizing the endocytosis pathway and dynamic behavior of receptors, we clarified molecular mechanisms underlying the biphasic effect. These results demonstrate the importance of nanotopography on cellular internalization, which could inspire future manipulation of VLPs for biomedical applications.