Membrane Poration Mechanisms at the Cell–Nanostructure Interface

Abstract

Abstract3D vertical nanostructures have become one of the most significant methods for interfacing cells and the nanoscale and for accessing significant intracellular functionalities such as membrane potential. As this intracellular access can be induced by means of diverse cellular membrane poration mechanisms, it is important to investigate in detail the cell condition after membrane rupture for assessing the real effects of the poration techniques on the biological environment. Indeed, differences of the membrane dynamics and reshaping have not been observed yet when the membrane‐nanostructure system is locally perturbed by, for instance, diverse membrane breakage events. In this work, new insights are provided into the membrane dynamics in case of two different poration approaches, optoacoustic‐ and electro‐poration, both mediated by the same 3D nanostructures. The experimental results offer a detailed overview on the different poration processes in terms of electrical recordings and membrane conformation.

Biomaterials-based approaches to model embryogenesis

“…126 Plasmonic and meta-plasmonic materials can locally enhance optical fields, inducing ejection of electrons and mechano-acoustic waves in the close surroundings of the so called "hot spot" which also induce local membrane poration enabling intracellular delivery and recording of intracellular electrical activity. [127][128][129] How electroporation and lasermediated poration physically disrupt the cell membrane and perturb the cytosol around has been investigated, 130 confirming the temporary and local modification of the cell membrane making the above approaches suitable to perturb stem cells system to study how different signalling pathways are influencing organogenesis. Alternatively, arrays of complex micromachines can be fabricated to allow controlled-release of multiple payloads on demand, by electrochemical dissolution of thin membranes that otherwise seal microreservoirs containing the desired molecules.…”

Nanoneedle Platforms: The Many Ways to Pierce the Cell Membrane

“…[ 51,52 ] The operating principle is that the stimulus of a femtosecond‐pulsed laser will elicit surface plasmon polaritons on the nanoneedle surface, which can decay into high‐energy electrons, or “hot electrons” ( Figure a). [ 167,168 ] These electrons on the nanoneedle surface are capable of initiating shock waves resulting in transient and localized nanopores on the cell membrane, thereby enabling effective drug delivery or intracellular recording. Optoporation can be likewise coupled with nanoneedle arrays to enhance the occurrence of membrane penetration.…”

Optically Transparent Vertical Silicon Nanowire Arrays for Live-Cell Imaging

“…Thus, the development of new tools for directly probing this response is likely to lead to the development of novel fundamental research applications and ex vivo cell-based therapies. [16][17][18][19] The ability of these nanostructures to elicit functional cellular responses at the cell-material interfacesuch as intracellular delivery, biomolecular extraction (nanobiopsy), nanoelectrode-based electrophysiology, biosensing, and mechanotransduction-arises from their salient advantages in multiple independent parameters: geometric/architectural exibility, minimal invasiveness, and the ability to simultaneously interface with large numbers of cells. [20][21][22][23][24][25] Despite implementation of these platforms in a variety of advanced cellular applications-such as in vivo and ex vivo gene editing, recording cellular action potential, and immunomodulation-the development of this burgeoning eld is hindered by a lack of tools allowing for direct, rapid, and dynamic visualization of living cells interacting with these nanostructures.…”