Stereodependent Fusion and Fission of Vesicles: Calcium Binding of Synthetic Gemini Phospholipids Containing Two Phosphate Groups

Polymersomes in Drug Delivery─From Experiment to Computational Modeling

Polymersomes, composed of amphiphilic block copolymers, are self-assembled vesicles that have gained attention as potential drug delivery systems due to their good biocompatibility, stability, and versatility. Various experimental techniques have been employed to characterize the self-assembly behaviors and properties of polymersomes. However, they have limitations in revealing molecular details and underlying mechanisms. Computational modeling techniques have emerged as powerful tools to complement experimental studies and enabled researchers to examine drug delivery mechanisms at molecular resolution. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in the field of polymersome-based drug delivery systems, with an emphasis on insights gained from both experimental and computational studies. Specifically, we focus on polymersome morphologies, self-assembly kinetics, fusion and fission, behaviors in flow, as well as drug encapsulation and release mechanisms. Furthermore, we also identify existing challenges and limitations in this rapidly evolving field and suggest possible directions for future research.

Co-functionalization with phosphate and carboxylate on polydiacetylene for colorimetric detection of calcium ions in serum

In this study, co-functionalization with phosphate and carboxylate on polydiacetylene (PDA) was proposed to detect calcium ions in serum, inspired by biologically abundant phosphate-calcium ion and carboxylate-calcium ion binding. The cooperative interaction of calcium ions with phosphate and carboxylate in PDA induced the change of electronic properties in the backbone without aggregation of liposomes, accompanied by blue-to-purple color transition. The cooperative effect through the introduction of mixed ligands facilitated the selective detection of calcium ions over magnesium ions, which was a source of major interference in many calcium ion probes, and in the presence of major serum metal ions. The sensor system exhibited highly sensitive detection of calcium ions with an estimated limit of detection of 0.97 μM. In addition, the detection method was employed to determine the concentration of calcium ions in various serums.

Characterization of the micelle structure of oleic acid-based gemini surfactants: effect of stereochemistry

In this study, we synthesize a novel oleic acid-based gemini surfactant with carboxylate headgroups, and study the effect of stereochemistry (anti- vs. syn-) on self-aggregation properties in water.

Specific optical rotation is a versatile tool for the identification of critical micelle concentration and micellar growth of tartaric acid-based diastereomeric amphiphiles

Four novel tartaric acid-based diastereomeric chiral amphiphiles, two being enantiomers of the other two, have been synthesized and investigated using chiroptical spectroscopic methods, along with tensiometry and dynamic light scattering experiments. We found that an inflection point in specific optical rotation (SOR) values at ~0.32 mM corresponds to the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The increase in magnitude of SOR values beyond CMC corresponds to the growth of aggregates. For enantiomers, oppositely signed SOR values were observed, ruling out the possibility for the presence of aggregation size mediated artefacts. SOR values did not exhibit concentration dependence for a chiral tartaric acid based non-aggregating analogue further establishing the absence of artefacts or anomalous interaction of tartaric acid based head group with solvent. Electronic circular dichroism spectra showed no significant changes in band positions or intensities with concentration. Due to the requirement for higher concentrations (~200 mM) needed to obtain vibrational circular dichroism spectra, these measurements are not found to be useful for studying concentration dependent properties of chiral amphiphiles.

Carbon Nanotubes Mediate Fusion of Lipid Vesicles

The fusion of lipid membranes is opposed by high energetic barriers. In living organisms, complex protein machineries carry out this biologically essential process. Here we show that membrane-spanning carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can trigger spontaneous fusion of small lipid vesicles. In coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we find that a CNT bridging between two vesicles locally perturbs their lipid structure. Their outer leaflets merge as the CNT pulls lipids out of the membranes, creating an hourglass-shaped fusion intermediate with still intact inner leaflets. As the CNT moves away from the symmetry axis connecting the vesicle centers, the inner leaflets merge, forming a pore that completes fusion. The distinct mechanism of CNT-mediated membrane fusion may be transferable, providing guidance in the development of fusion agents, e.g., for the targeted delivery of drugs or nucleic acids.

Novel Synthesis of Anionic Gemini Surfactants from 1, 4-Diol as a Key Block Material

In this study, a series of all-hydrocarbon anionic gemini surfactants containing COOH (adipic acid-type and suberic acid-type), SO3Na, OSO3Na, and OP=O(OH)2 functional groups was developed from 1,4-diol and 1,4-diketone as a key block material. The effect of the surfactant head groups on the surface properties was investigated by surface tension and surface pressure-area (π-A) measurements. We found that the critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of the studied geminis were smaller by one order of magnitude than those of the corresponding 1+l-type surfactants. From π-A measurements, the limiting areas of COOH-type geminis were less than twofold of the area of the corresponding 1+1-type, which indicates that the gemini structure enabled tighter packing than is possible in surfactants of the 1+l-type. In contrast, the limiting area of the OP=O(OH)2-type gemini was larger than those of the COOH-type geminis. Furthermore, the suberic acid-type gemini showed a smaller limiting area than that of adipic acid-type gemini. Therefore, we can conclude that the flexibility of the gemini at the connecting position has a significant effect on formation of the monolayer at the air/water interface.

Managing the phase separation in double emulsion by tuning amphiphilicity via a supramolecular route

Double emulsion has attracted intense scientific investigation on account of its use in a wide range of applications. However, the process of its solidification is usually accompanied by the problem of uncontrollable phase separation. In this work, a supramolecular route is proposed to manage the phase separation in double emulsion. Different degrees of phase separations, from complete wetting to partial wetting and complete dewetting, have been achieved in an emulsion system consisting of P4VP-oleic acid. Partial wetting offers a strategy for generating polymer particles with controllable anisotropic structures. It is demonstrated that the amphiphilicity of polymer matrix, relying on the change of polymer-acid ratio or the chain length of aliphatic acid, is of vital importance for determining the degree of phase separation. A spreading and wetting theory is established to predict and explain the formation of partial wetting.

Synthesis and surface properties of a pH-regulated and pH-reversible anionic gemini surfactant

A new series of N,N'-dialkyl-N,N'-diacetate ethylenediamine, differing by the length of the carbon tails (8, 10, and 12), was synthesized in two steps. Their surface properties and aggregation behavior were studied in aqueous solution using pH titration, surface tension, zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and fluorescence measurements. On the basis of the pKa values obtained, surface tension was measured, as well as key surface property parameters. Combined with the zeta potential and DLS results, the experiments produced vesicles and reflected their pH-controllability through subsequent TEM and fluorescence measurements. pH-switchability was found to be reversible by light transmittance. Emulsion stability of dodecane-in-water in different pH showed that emulsion type was reversed between "on" for the O/W emulsion type and "off" for the W/O.

Synthesis, Structural Properties and Applications of Gemini Surfactants: A Review

Gemini surfactants are most exciting new types of surfactants. They have two hydrophilic head groups and two hydrophobic groups in a molecule separated by a spacer group. Nowadays different types of geminis have been synthesized. Geminis show some characteristic features like low cmc, high surface activity, high solubility in water, good foaming and wetting properties, as well as low Krafft temperature. Geminis imply low eye and skin irritation. These surfactants are widely used as antifoaming and antimicrobial agents. This review paper deals with synthesis, properties and applications of various gemini surfactants.

Role of the spacer stereochemistry on the structure of solid-supported gemini surfactants aggregates

Energy dispersive X-ray diffraction was applied to investigate the role of the spacer stereochemistry on the structure of the solid supported aggregates of three stereoisomeric cationic gemini surfactants, 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-bis-(N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)butane dibromide. Solid-supported Gemini surfactant aggregates self-assemble into highly interdigitated multibilayer stacks. Structural properties, such as the bilayer thickness, the headgroup size, the thickness of the hydrophobic core, and the size of the interbilayer water region, were derived from electron density profiles. Results show that the stereochemistry of the spacer controls the structural properties of the solid-supported interfacial aggregates.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of enhanced DNA binding new lipopolythioureas

Nonviral gene delivery is limited to a large extent by the cationic nature of most of the chemical vector. We have shown that lipopolythioureas interact with DNA. However, lipopolythioureas were not very efficient at transfecting cells, probably due to reduced interaction between the noncationic synthetic lipid and the cell membrane. Here, we report that liposomes made from a new thiourea lipid, DPPC, and a lipid bearing an RGD ligand allowed very efficient entry of the lipopolythioureas into integrin alpha(v)beta(3) expressing cells. In addition, we show that a stable interaction between DNA and lipopolythiourea could be obtain with two thiourea groups. Moreover, the addition of a hydrophilic terminus improves the formulation of these new DNA binding agents.

Segregation and phase transition in mixed lipid films

Energy dispersion X-ray diffraction (EDXD) was applied to investigate the structure of partly dehydrated mixed films formed by the phospholipid dimyristoyl phosphatidylcoline (DMPC) and any of the three diastereomers of the dicationic gemini surfactant (2S,3S)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-bis(N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethylammonium) butane dibromide. As the surfactant to lipid molar ratio (R(S/L)) increases, the gemini monotonically solubilizes the lipid bilayer promoting the formation of a cubic phase of space group Pmn segregating from the residual lamellar phase of the lipid. Finally, at R(S/)(L) = 1, the phase transition is complete. The mixed film at the highest surfactant to lipid molar ratio (R(S/L) = 2.3) was hydrated by a vapor saturated atmosphere. At full hydration, a cubic to lamellar phase transition occurs. Coarse grain dynamic investigations, carried out as a function of both the surfactant to lipid molar ratio and the number of water molecules for amphiphile unit, allowed us to elucidate the structure of the emerging cubic phase and the hydration-induced structural pathway of the cubic to lamellar phase transition observed by EDXD.

Nucleoside-Based Phospholipids and Their Liposomes Formed in Water

Phospholipids and liposomes have been the subjects of considerable attention because of their importance in biological systems. We have efficiently synthesized novel nucleoside-based phospholipids in six-step sequences starting from their corresponding nucleosides. These nucleoside-based phospholipids self-assemble into liposome-like structures in aqueous solutions. We have analyzed the structures of these liposomes by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy.

A nanoscale view of supramolecular stereochemistry in self-assembled monolayers of enantiomers and racemates

The effect that molecular chirality has on the formation of monolayer structures by pure enantiomers and their racemates at the liquid/solid interface has been investigated for two chiral compounds (1 and 2) which differ from each other by the presence or absence of an ester function in their respective molecular structures. 1 shows pseudoracemate formation when the achiral graphite support is exposed to a solution containing a racemate while 2 shows racemic conglomerate formation. This difference is rationalized in terms of the orientation of the pure enantiomers with respect to the graphite substrate and highlights the importance of molecular structure and its influence on balancing the interplay between molecular conformation and molecular packing on the surface. For 1, nonstoichiometric mixtures of both enantiomers have been investigated, and the results are discussed in the framework of the sergeant and soldiers principle. These results are important for the understanding and prediction of spontaneous resolution in monolayer systems.

Rapid access to synthetic lysobisphosphatidic acids using P(III) chemistry

An expeditious route to synthetic lysobisphosphatidic acid S,S-1, its enantiomer, and regioisomers is reported. Synthetic difficulties concerning lipid stability and stereochemistry are bypassed using a phosphite triester approach in combination with multiple silyl protection. Spectroscopic studies evidence that acyl group migration in S,S-1 is accelerated by nonpolar solvents and inhibited by pyridine.

Recognition of cationic species with synthetic receptors

In the past year progress in the study of cationic species has been made, particularly in our understanding of the factors which control the selective recognition of biologically important cations such as ammonium, alkali and alkaline earth metal ions, and of metal ions used in biomedicine such as lanthanides and iron(III). Based on this knowledge, several new hosts with improved transport, photophysical and biological properties have been designed.

Bilayer membranes and transporter models

Significant advances in the understanding of the mechanisms of artificial transporters appeared in the past year which provide insights into natural transporters and suggest directions for regulation of transport. Parallel developments in the control of bilayer formation and molecular recognition by synthetic lipids have led to simple mimics of 'whole cell' types of processes.