Coating and Stabilization of Liposomes by Clathrin-Inspired DNA Self-Assembly

Abstract

The self-assembly of the protein clathrin on biological membranes facilitates essential processes of endocytosis and has provided a source of inspiration for materials design by the highly ordered structural appearance. By mimicking the architecture of the protein building blocks and clathrin self-assemblies to coat liposomes with biomaterials, advanced hybrid carriers can be derived. Here, we present a method for fabricating DNA-coated liposomes by hydrophobically anchoring and subsequently connecting DNA-based triskelion structures on the liposome surface inspired by the assembly of the protein clathrin. Dynamic light scattering, ζpotential, confocal microscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy measurements independently demonstrate successful DNA coating. Nanomechanical measurements conducted with atomic force microscopy show that the DNA coating enhances the mechanical stability of the liposomes relative to uncoated ones. Furthermore, we provide the possibility to reverse the coating process by triggering the disassembly of the DNA coats through a toehold-mediated displacement reaction. Our results describe a straightforward, versatile, and reversible approach for coating and stabilizing lipid vesicles through the assembly of rationally designed DNA structures. This method has potential for further development toward the ordered arrangement of tailored functionalities on the surface of liposomes and for applications as hybrid nanocarriers.

Aloe derived nanovesicle as a functional carrier for indocyanine green encapsulation and phototherapy

“…The interaction between detergents and vesicles is in virtue of the insertion of detergents to lipid bilayer which lead to micelles formation and vesicles structure disintegration, also named as solubilization [ 65 ]. It is a common analytical method for structural stability of vesicles [ 66 ]. To investigate the structural stability of gADNVs and Lips, the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100) as a membrane breaker was used and interacted with 1 × 10 8 particles/mL of gADNVs and Lips for 30 min.…”

Recent Advancements in Polymer/Liposome Assembly for Drug Delivery: From Surface Modifications to Hybrid Vesicles

“…For example, liposomes densely functionalized with DNA hindered the degradation of the conjugate by serum proteins, increasing the stability in biological environments and cellular uptake [ 67 ]. Baumann et al prepared lipid vesicles coated and stabilized by a semirigid DNA network, based on the connection of three-arm branched DNA junctions inspired by the structure of clathrin [ 68 ]. As the self-assembly of clathrin on biological membranes facilitates the endocytosis process, materials inspired by its ordered structural appearance are of great interest.…”

Discotic material hexakis(4‐carboxyphenylethynyl)benzene inhibits Escherichia coli growth via the glycolysis pathway

“…Compound 2 has a triple‐arm form and a triskelion‐like structure. In biological system, it is known that triskelia are capable of binding to clathrin, 19,20 allowing their intracellular trafficking in the cytoplasm. It may indicate that compound 2 to possess a similar binding affinity to induce the toxicity.…”