Ligands influence a carbon nanotube penetration through a lipid bilayer

Abstract

The interactions between nanomaterials and biological membranes are important for the safe use of nanomaterials. We explore the nano-bio interface by studying the penetration of a carbon nanotube (CNT) coated with ligands through a lipid bilayer. With a dissipative particle dynamics model, the mechanism of ligands influencing nano-bio interaction is analyzed. The CNTs with different ligands are tested. The simulation shows that the increase of the total number of ligand particles decreases the capability of a CNT penetrating through a membrane. For the CNTs with the same number of ligand particles, the arrangements of their ligands determine their behaviors. The asymmetrical pattern generates an upside down phenomenon, which requires more energy to get through the membrane; the uniform distribution penetrates through a membrane with less difficulty. Decreasing the stiffness, the length of ligands or preferring hydrophobic ligands increases the penetration capability of CNTs.

Alteration of Membrane Compositional Asymmetry by LiCoO2 Nanosheets

“…Our choice to focus on lipid bilayer systems is motivated by recent explorations of the uptake and accumulation of various engineered nanomaterials, typically composed of redox-inactive cores, by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as their interaction with model cell membranes. − In particular, nanoparticle–phospholipid bilayer interactions have been investigated through a host of analytical techniques, including fluorescence spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), and scanning probes. − However, these methods require tagged or labeled molecules, lack inherent surface sensitivity, or are not chemically specific. In contrast to these methods, vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy is applicable to study the various oscillators and determine structural and orientational information about them, directly at aqueous/solid interfaces with surface specificity. − SFG has been shown to provide structural and orientational information on supported lipid bilayer (SLB) interfaces in aqueous environments. ,− SFG has also been used to probe phase transitions of lipid bilayers, , kinetics of transbilayer movement of lipids, − bilayer asymmetry, and protein–lipid interactions. ,− The technique is particularly powerful when applied in conjunction with complementary methods when probing nanoparticle–membrane interactions, as we recently showed for gold metal nanoparticle–membrane interactions …”

Engineering surface patterns on nanoparticles: new insights into nano-bio interactions

“…higher uptake efficiency achieved by symmetric distribution). 46 Since Janus nanoparticles contain heterogeneous regions, they can induce unique biological reactions, which have been widely used in drug delivery 47 and biological imaging. 48 Therefore, understanding the interaction between nanoparticles and biological interfaces and the effect of the surface patterns of nanoparticles on this interaction is of high significance for the application of nano-drugs.…”