Correlating mono- and bilayers of lipids to investigate the pronounced effects of steroid hormone 17α-ethynylestradiol on membrane models of DPPC/cholesterol

Assembling Xanthan Gum at the Air-Water Interface and Disentangling It with Ionic Liquids

Xanthan gum is a biopolymer used in a wide range of products in the food and cosmetic industries. As ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as antimicrobial molecules, they can be used as preservatives for this polymer. Hence, it is important to understand the interaction of ionic liquids with Xanthan gum. In this investigation, polymer self-assembly at the air-water interface has been studied in the presence of ionic liquids floating at the air-water interface. From the surface pressure-area isotherm, it is shown that the electrostatic interaction drives the polymer to the interface, resulting in a viscoelastic film. In-plane dilation rheology has determined the storage and loss moduli of the film, which are found to depend on the concentration of the polymer dissolved in the water subphase. Additionally, a synchrotron-based X-ray reflectivity study has produced the electron density profile across the interface, depicting the structure of the film and suggesting that the negatively charged side groups of Xanthan gum attach to the positively charged headgroup of ionic liquids. This assembly drives the polymer to disentangle, which has been further verified in an aqueous solution of the polymer showing a non-newtonian shear-thinning behavior. The storage and loss moduli curves show two crossover frequencies, manifesting an elastic plateau width that decreases in the presence of IL in the solution. This, in turn, is a signature of the disentangling effect of the IL.

Nanoarchitectonics and Simulation on the Molecular-Level Interactions between p-Sulfonic Acid Calix[4]arene and Langmuir Monolayers Representing Healthy and Cancerous Cell Membranes

The design of chemotherapeutic drug carriers requires precise information on their interaction with the plasma membrane since the carriers should be internalized by cells without disrupting or compromising the overall integrity of the membrane. In this study, we employ Langmuir monolayers mimicking the outer leaflet of plasma membranes of healthy and cancerous cells to determine the molecular-level interactions with a water-soluble calixarene derivative, p-sulfonic acid calix[4]arene (SCX4), which is promising as drug carrier. The cancer membrane models comprised either 40% 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) or 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), 30% cholesterol (Chol), 20% 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPPE), and 10% 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (DPPS). The healthy membrane models were composed of 60% DPPC or DOPC, 30% Chol, and 10% DPPE. SCX4 expanded the surface pressure isotherms and decreased compressional moduli in all membrane models, altering their morphologies as seen in Brewster angle microscopy images. A combination of polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that SCX4 interacts preferentially with lipid headgroups in cancer membrane models through electrostatic interactions with the amine groups of DPPS and DPPE. In healthy membrane models, SCX4 interacts mostly with cholesterol through van der Waals forces. Using a multidimensional projection technique to compare data from the distinct membrane models, we observed that SCX4 effects depend on membrane composition with no preference for cancer or healthy membrane models, which is consistent with its biocompatibility. Furthermore, the interactions and close location of SCX4 to the headgroups indicate that it does not compromise membrane integrity, confirming that SCX4 may be a suitable drug carrier.

Oxidation of lipid membrane cholesterol by cholesterol oxidase and its effects on raft model membrane structure

The effects of a peripheral protein - cholesterol oxidase (3β-hydroxysteroid oxidase, ChOx) on the characteristics of model lipid membranes composed of cholesterol, cholesterol:sphingomyelin (1:1), and the raft model composed of DOPC:Chol:SM (1:1:1) were investigated using two membrane model systems: the flat monolayer prepared by the Langmuir technique and the curved model consisting of liposome of the same lipids. The planar monolayers and liposomes were employed to follow membrane cholesterol oxidation to cholestenone catalyzed by ChOx and changes in the lipid membrane structure accompanying this reaction. Changes in the structure of liposomes in the presence of the enzyme were reflected in the changes of hydrodynamic diameter and fluorescence microscopy images, while changes of surface properties of planar membranes were evaluated by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) and Brewster angle microscopy. UV-Vis absorbance measurements confirmed the activity of the enzyme in the tested systems. A better understanding of the interactions between the enzyme and the cell membrane may help in finding alternative ways to decrease excessive cholesterol levels than the common approach of treating hypercholesterolemia with statins, which are not free from undesirable side effects, repeatedly reported in the literature and observed by the patients.

Effects induced by η6-p-cymene ruthenium(II) complexes on Langmuir monolayers mimicking cancer and healthy cell membranes do not correlate with their toxicity

The mechanism of chemotherapeutic action of Ru-based drugs involves plasma membrane disruption and valuable insights into this process may be gained using cell membrane models. The interactions of a series of cytotoxic η6-p-cymene ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(η6-p-cymene)P(3,5-C(CH3)3-C6H3)3Cl2] (1), [Ru(η6-p-cymene)P(3,5-CH3-C6H3)3Cl2] (2), [Ru(η6-p-cymene)P(4-CH3O-3,5-CH3-C6H2)3Cl2] (3), and [Ru(η6-p-cymene)P(4-CH3O-C6H4)3Cl2] (4), were examined using Langmuir monolayers as simplified healthy and cancerous outer leaflet plasma membrane models. The cancerous membrane (CM1 and CM2) models contained either 40 % 1,2- dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) or 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), 30 % cholesterol (Chol), 20 % 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPPE), and 10 % 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (DPPS). Meanwhile, the healthy membrane (HM1 and HM2) models were composed of 60 % DPPC or DOPC, 30 % Chol and 10 % DPPE. The complexes affected surface pressure isotherms and decreased compressional moduli of cancerous and healthy membrane models, interacting with the monolayers headgroup and tails according to data from polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). However, the effects did not correlate with the toxicity of the complexes to cancerous and healthy cells. Multidimensional projection technique showed that the complex (1) induced significant changes in the CM1 and HM1 monolayers, though it had the lowest cytotoxicity against cancer cells and is not toxic to healthy cells. Moreover, the most toxic complexes (2) and (4) were those that least affected CM2 and HM2 monolayers. The findings here support that the ruthenium complexes interact with lipids and cholesterol in cell membrane models, and their cytotoxic activities involve a multifaceted mode of action beyond membrane disruption.

Effect of high sodium ion level on the interaction of AmB with a cholesterol-rich phospholipid monolayer

Invasive fungal infections are a primary reason for high mortality in immunocompromised people, especially in critically ill patients, such as intensive care unit (ICU) patients, advanced cancer patients, or severe burn patients. Hypernatremia also can increase mortality in severely ill patients. Amphotericin B (AmB) is the gold standard for treating infections, but in severely ill patients, AmB can cause hematotoxicity when administered intravenously due to its interaction with cholesterol on red blood cell membranes. This results in limited doses of AmB and affects the treatment of infections. The proportion of cholesterol molecules in membrane lipids in red blood cells is as high as 50 mol%, and the sodium ions can influence the interaction between AmB and lipids on the membrane. Therefore, in the complex clinical situation of a severely ill patient with a fungal infection and hypernatremia, the interaction between amphotericin B and the red blood cell membranes is worth studying in depth. In this work, the interaction between AmB and the dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/cholesterol mixed monolayer in the presence of high sodium ion levels was studied when the proportion of cholesterol was 50%. The results show that the effect of AmB on reducing the monolayer's area at a high level of sodium ions is slightly stronger at 30 mN/m. The effect of AmB on reducing the elastic modulus of the DPPC/Chol monolayer is significantly weakened by a high sodium ion level, compared with the level of sodium ions at normal physiological concentration. The higher the sodium ion concentration, the weaker the intermolecular force of the DPPC/Chol/AmB mixed monolayers. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations suggest that at a high sodium ion level, the presence of AmB significantly reduces the surface roughness of the DPPC/Chol monolayer. AmB may bind to cholesterol molecules, and it isolates cholesterol from the monolayer, resulting in a reduced height of the cholesterol-rich monolayer and an increasingly dispersed monolayer region. The results are beneficial to understanding the mechanism of impact of a high sodium ion level on the relationship between AmB and red blood cell membranes rich in cholesterol and are valuable for understanding the hemolytic toxicity of AmB to red blood cells at a high sodium ion level.

In situ interaction between the hormone 17α-ethynylestradiol and the liquid-ordered phase composed of the lipid rafts sphingomyelin and cholesterol

Hormone treatments are frequently associated with cardiovascular diseases and cancers in women. Additionally, the detrimental effects of their presence as contaminants in water remain a concern. The transport of hormones through cell membranes is essential for their biological action, but investigating cell permeability is challenging owing to the experimental difficulty in dealing with whole cells. In this paper, we study the interaction of the synthetic hormone 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) with membrane models containing the key raft components sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol (Chol). The models consisted of Langmuir monolayers and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) that represent bilayers. EE2 induced expansion of SM monolayers upon interacting with the non-hydrated amide group of SM head, but it had practically no effect on SM GUVs because these group are not available for interaction in bilayers. In contrast, EE2 interacted with hydrated phosphate group (PO2-) and amide group of SM/Chol mixture monolayer, which could explain the loss in phase contrast of liquid-ordered GUVs suggesting pore formation. A comparison with reported EE2 effects on GUVs in the fluid phase, for which no loss in phase contrast was observed, indicates that the liquid-ordered phase consisting of lipid rafts is relevant to be associated with the changes on cell permeability caused by the hormones.

Ionic Liquid-Induced Assembly of DNA at Air-Water Interface

DNA nanotechnology is the future of many products in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Self-assembly of this negatively charged biopolymer at surfaces and interfaces is an essential step to elaborate its field of applications. In this study, the ionic liquid (IL) monolayer-assisted self-assembly of DNA macromolecules at the air-water interface has been closely monitored by employing various quantitative techniques, namely, surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherms, surface potential, interfacial rheology, and X-ray reflectivity (XRR). The π-A isotherms reveal that the IL 1,3-didecyl 3-methyl imidazolium chloride induces DNA self-assembly at the interface, leading to a thick viscoelastic film. The interfacial rheology exhibits a notable rise in the viscoelastic modulus as the surface pressure increases. The values of storage and loss moduli measured as a function of strain frequency suggest a relaxation frequency that depends on the length of the macromolecule. The XRR measurements indicate a considerable increase in DNA layer thickness at the elevated surface pressures depending on the number of base pairs of the DNA. The results are considered in terms of the electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, allowing a quantitative conclusion about the arrangement of DNA strands underneath the monolayer of the ILs at the air-water interface.

Revealing the structure and mechanisms of action of a synthetic opioid with model biological membranes at the air-water interface

Synthetic opioids such as piperazine derivative called MT-45 interact with opioid receptors in a manner similar to morphine leading to euphoria, a sense of relaxation and pain relief and are commonly used as substituents of natural opioids. In this study we show the changes in the surface properties of nasal mucosa and intestinal epithelial model cell membranes formed at the air - water interface using Langmuir technique upon the exposure to MT-45. Both membranes constitute the first barrier to absorb this substance into the human body. The presence of the piperazine derivative affects the organization of both DPPC and ternary DMPC:DMPE:DMPS monolayers treated as simple models of nasal mucosa and intestinal cell membranes, respectively. This novel psychoactive substance (NPS) leads to the fluidization of the model layers, which may indicate their increased permeability. MT-45 has a greater influence on the ternary monolayers characteristic of the intestinal epithelial cells than nasal mucosa. It might be attributed to the increased attractive interactions between the components of the ternary layer, which in turn increase the interactions with a synthetic opioid. Additionally, the crystal structures of MT-45 determined by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction methods allowed us to both provide useful data for facilitating the identification of synthetic opioids as well as to attribute the effect of MT-45 to the ionic interactions between protonated nitrogen atoms and negatively charged parts of the polar heads of the lipids.

Interactions between O2 Nanobubbles and the Pulmonary Surfactant in the Presence of Inhalation Medicines

A dispersion of oxygen nanobubbles (O2-NBs) is an extraordinary gas-liquid colloidal system where spherical gas elements can be considered oxygen transport agents. Its conversion into inhalation aerosol by atomization with the use of nebulizers, while maintaining the properties of the dispersion, gives new opportunities for its applications and may be attractive as a new concept in treating lung diseases. The screening of O2-NBs interactions with lung fluids is particularly needed in view of an O2-NBs application as a promising aerosol drug carrier with the additional function of oxygen supplementation. The aim of the presented studies was to investigate the influence of O2-NBs dispersion combined with the selected inhalation drugs on the surface properties of two types of pulmonary surfactant models (lipid and lipid-protein model). The characteristics of the air-liquid interface were carried out under breathing-like conditions using two selected tensiometer systems: Langmuir-Wilhelmy trough and the oscillating droplet tensiometer. The results indicate that the presence of NBs has a minor effect on the dynamic characteristics of the air-liquid interface, which is the desired effect in the context of a potential use in inhalation therapies.

The Role of Cholesterol in the Interaction of the Lipid Monolayer with the Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol-A

Among pollutants of emerging concern, endocrine disruptors (ED) have been shown to cause side effects in humans and animals. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an ED by-product of the plastic industry and one of the chemicals with the highest volume produced yearly. Here, we studied the role of cholesterol in the BPA exposure effects over membrane models. We used Langmuir films of both neat lipid DPPC (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) and cholesterol (Chol) and a binary mixture containing DPPC/Chol, exposing it to BPA. We evaluate changes in the π-A isotherms and the PM–IRRAS (polarization modulation–infrared reflection adsorption spectroscopy) spectra. BPA exposure induced changes in the DPPC and Chol neat monolayers, causing mean molecular area expansion and altering profiles. However, at high surface pressure, the BPA was expelled from the air–water interface. For the DPPC/Chol mixture, BPA caused expansion throughout the whole compression, indicating that BPA is present at the monolayer interface. The PM–IRRAS analysis showed that BPA interacted with the phosphate group of DPPC through hydrogen bonding, which caused the area’s expansion. Such evidence might be biologically relevant to better understand the mechanism of action of BPA in cell membranes once phosphatidylcholines and Chol are found in mammalian membranes.

Influence of Potassium Ions on Act of Amphotericin B to the DPPC/Chol Mixed Monolayer at Different Surface Pressures

Amphotericin B (AmB) is an antifungal drug that rarely develops resistance. It has an affinity with the cholesterol on mammalian cell membranes, disrupting the structure and function of the membranes, which are also affected by potassium ions. However, the mechanism is unclear. In this paper, the Langmuir monolayer method was used to study the effects of potassium ions on the surface pressure–mean molecular area of isotherms, elastic modulus and the surface pressure–time curves of a 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/cholesterol (DPPC/Chol) monolayer and a DPPC/Chol/AmB monolayer. The morphology and thickness of the Langmuir–Blodgett films were studied via atomic force microscopy. The results showed that AmB can increase the mean molecular area of the DPPC/Chol mixed monolayer at low pressures (15 mN/m) but reduces it at high pressures (30 mN/m). The potassium ions may interfere with the effect of AmB in different ways. The potassium ions can enhance the influence of AmB on the stability of monolayer at low surface pressures, but weaken it at high surface pressures. The potassium ions showed significant interference with the interaction between AmB and the cholesterol-enriched region. The results are helpful for us to understand how the effect of amphotericin B on the phospholipid membrane is interfered with by potassium ions when amphotericin B enters mammalian cell membrane.

Chemical and morphological effects of the contraceptive hormone 17 α-ethynylestradiol on fluid lipid membranes

The lack of studies involving the effects in human health associated with the chronic ingestion of pollutants lead to the path of investigating the action of these compounds in cell membrane models. We demonstrated the interaction (causes and consequences) of the hormone 17 α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) with lipid monolayers (prepared as Langmuir films) and bilayers prepared as small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Both fluidity and majority chemical composition of real plasma cell membrane were guaranteed using the phospholipid 1-palmitoil-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC). Surface pressure-mean molecular area (π-A) isotherms and PM-IRRAS measurements highlighted the strong interaction of EE2 with POPC monolayers, leading the hormone to remain at the air/water interface and promoting its penetration into the phospholipid hydrophobic chains. In the case of bilayers, the entrance of the hormone inside the SUV is likely facilitated by their high curvature. In GUVs, EE2 was responsible for changes in the spherical shape, forming structures like buds and lipid protrusions. The set of results indicates the strong effects of EE2 on fluid membranes, which is an important feature to predict its damage in human cells.

Langmuir-Schaefer Perylene Derivative Films: Influence of the Molecular Chemical Structure on the Supramolecular Arrangement

Since the optical and electrical properties of organic thin films devices depend on their supramolecular arrangement and the molecular chemical structure, the understanding of such characteristics is essential for the optimization of these devices. In this study, we determine the supramolecular arrangement of thin films produced using the Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) technique and explain how its supramolecular arrangement is affected by the molecular chemical structure using two perylene derivatives: bis-butylimide (BuPTCD) and bis-phenethylimide (PhPTCD). The optical absorption measurements reveal that both films grow homogeneously and indicate that the presence of H aggregates (forbidden emission) is higher for BuPTCD LS film than for PhPTCD LS film. Atomic force microscopic analysis shows that the PhPTCD LS film is rougher than the BuPTCD film. In addition, FTIR analyses indicate that both films have head-on molecular organization. XRD patterns reveal that both the BuPTCD LS film and the PhPTCD LS film are crystalline, but that crystallinity is more prevalent in the BuPTCD LS film. Thus, the results show that the difference presented in the chemical structures leads the films to have different supramolecular arrangements, with consequences for their optical properties.

Chain Cleavage of Bioinspired Bacterial Membranes Photoinduced by Eosin Decyl Ester

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is promising for bacterial inactivation since cellular internalization of photosensitizers (PS) is not crucial for the treatment effectiveness. Photoinduced damage in the lipid envelope may already induce microbial inactivation, which requires PS capable of easily penetrating into the membrane. Herein, we report on the insertion of the PS eosin decyl ester (EosDec) into Langmuir films of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) (DOPG), and cardiolipin (CLP) used as mimetic systems of bacterial membranes. Surface pressure isotherms and polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) indicated that the hydrophobic nature of EosDec favored deeper penetration in all the phospholipid monolayers. The incorporation of EosDec led to monolayer expansion, especially in the anionic DOPG and CLP owing to repulsive electrostatic interactions, and induced disorder in the lipid chains. Light irradiation of DOPE, DOPG, and CLP monolayers containing EosDec increased the rate of material loss to the subphase, which is attributed to cleavage of lipid chains triggered by contact-dependent reactions between excited states of EosDec and lipid unsaturations. The latter is key for membrane permeabilization and efficiency in microbial inactivation.