1
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Wu X, Xue H, Bordia G, Fink Z, Kim PY, Streubel R, Han J, Helms BA, Ashby PD, Omar AK, Russell TP. Self-Propulsion by Directed Explosive Emulsification. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2310435. [PMID: 38386499 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202310435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
An active droplet system, programmed to repeatedly move autonomously at a specific velocity in a well-defined direction, is demonstrated. Coulombic energy is stored in oversaturated interfacial assemblies of charged nanoparticle-surfactants by an applied DC electric field and can be released on demand. Spontaneous emulsification is suppressed by an increase in the stiffness of the oversaturated assemblies. Rapidly removing the field releases the stored energy in an explosive event that propels the droplet, where thousands of charged microdroplets are ballistically ejected from the surface of the parent droplet. The ejection is made directional by a symmetry breaking of the interfacial assembly, and the combined interaction force of the microdroplet plume on one side of the droplet propels the droplet distances tens of times its size, making the droplet active. The propulsion is autonomous, repeatable, and agnostic to the chemical composition of the nanoparticles. The symmetry-breaking in the nanoparticle assembly controls the microdroplet velocity and direction of propulsion. This mechanism of droplet propulsion will advance soft micro-robotics, establishes a new type of active matter, and introduces new vehicles for compartmentalized delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefei Wu
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Han Xue
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Gautam Bordia
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Zachary Fink
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Paul Y Kim
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Robert Streubel
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Jiale Han
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Brett A Helms
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Paul D Ashby
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ahmad K Omar
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
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2
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Griffo A, Sparn C, Lolicato F, Nolle F, Khangholi N, Seemann R, Fleury JB, Brinkmann M, Nickel W, Hähl H. Mechanics of biomimetic free-standing lipid membranes: insights into the elasticity of complex lipid compositions. RSC Adv 2024; 14:13044-13052. [PMID: 38655466 PMCID: PMC11034475 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra00738g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The creation of free-standing lipid membranes has been so far of remarkable interest to investigate processes occurring in the cell membrane since its unsupported part enables studies in which it is important to maintain cell-like physicochemical properties of the lipid bilayer, that nonetheless depend on its molecular composition. In this study, we prepare pore-spanning membranes that mimic the composition of plasma membranes and perform force spectroscopy indentation measurements to unravel mechanistic insights depending on lipid composition. We show that this approach is highly effective for studying the mechanical properties of such membranes. Furthermore, we identify a direct influence of cholesterol and sphingomyelin on the elasticity of the bilayer and adhesion between the two leaflets. Eventually, we explore the possibilities of imaging in the unsupported membrane regions. For this purpose, we investigate the adsorption and movement of a peripheral protein, the fibroblast growth factor 2, on the complex membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Griffo
- Center for Biophysics, Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
- Biophysical Engineering Group, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research Heidelberg Germany
| | - Carola Sparn
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center Heidelberg Germany
| | - Fabio Lolicato
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center Heidelberg Germany
| | - Friederike Nolle
- Center for Biophysics, Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Navid Khangholi
- Center for Biophysics, Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Ralf Seemann
- Center for Biophysics, Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Jean-Baptiste Fleury
- Center for Biophysics, Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Martin Brinkmann
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Walter Nickel
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center Heidelberg Germany
| | - Hendrik Hähl
- Center for Biophysics, Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
- Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
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3
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Reboucas RB, Faizi HA, Miksis MJ, Vlahovska PM. Stationary shapes of axisymmetric vesicles beyond lowest-energy configurations. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:2258-2271. [PMID: 38353299 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01463k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
We conduct a systematic exploration of the energy landscape of vesicle morphologies within the framework of the Helfrich model. Vesicle shapes are determined by minimizing the elastic energy subject to constraints of constant area and volume. The results show that pressurized vesicles can adopt higher-energy spindle-like configurations that require the action of point forces at the poles. If the internal pressure is lower than the external one, multilobed shapes are predicted. We utilize our results to rationalize experimentally observed spindle shapes of giant vesicles in a uniform AC electric field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo B Reboucas
- Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
| | - Hammad A Faizi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Michael J Miksis
- Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
| | - Petia M Vlahovska
- Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
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4
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Tam NW, Schullian O, Cipitria A, Dimova R. Nonspecific membrane-matrix interactions influence diffusivity of lipid vesicles in hydrogels. Biophys J 2024; 123:638-650. [PMID: 38332584 PMCID: PMC10938137 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The diffusion of extracellular vesicles and liposomes in vivo is affected by different tissue environmental conditions and is of great interest in the development of liposome-based therapeutics and drug-delivery systems. Here, we use a bottom-up biomimetic approach to better isolate and study steric and electrostatic interactions and their influence on the diffusivity of synthetic large unilamellar vesicles in hydrogel environments. Single-particle tracking of these extracellular vesicle-like particles in agarose hydrogels as an extracellular matrix model shows that membrane deformability and surface charge affect the hydrogel pore spaces that vesicles have access to, which determines overall diffusivity. Moreover, we show that passivation of vesicles with PEGylated lipids, as often used in drug-delivery systems, enhances diffusivity, but that this effect cannot be fully explained with electrostatic interactions alone. Finally, we compare our experimental findings with existing computational and theoretical work in the field to help explain the nonspecific interactions between diffusing particles and gel matrix environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky W Tam
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Otto Schullian
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, Potsdam, Germany; Free University of Berlin, Department of Physics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Amaia Cipitria
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, Potsdam, Germany; Group of Bioengineering in Regeneration and Cancer, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, Potsdam, Germany.
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5
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Granek R, Hoffmann I, Kelley EG, Nagao M, Vlahovska PM, Zilman A. Dynamic structure factor of undulating vesicles: finite-size and spherical geometry effects with application to neutron spin echo experiments. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2024; 47:12. [PMID: 38355850 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00400-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
We consider the dynamic structure factor (DSF) of quasi-spherical vesicles and present a generalization of an expression that was originally formulated by Zilman and Granek (ZG) for scattering from isotropically oriented quasi-flat membrane plaquettes. The expression is obtained in the form of a multi-dimensional integral over the undulating membrane surface. The new expression reduces to the original stretched exponential form in the limit of sufficiently large vesicles, i.e., in the micron range or larger. For much smaller unilamellar vesicles, deviations from the asymptotic, stretched exponential equation are noticeable even if one assumes that the Seifert-Langer leaflet density mode is completely relaxed and membrane viscosity is neglected. To avoid the need for an exhaustive numerical integration while fitting to neutron spin echo (NSE) data, we provide a useful approximation for polydisperse systems that tests well against the numerical integration of the complete expression. To validate the new expression, we performed NSE experiments on variable-size vesicles made of a POPC/POPS lipid mixture and demonstrate an advantage over the original stretched exponential form or other manipulations of the original ZG expression that have been deployed over the years to fit the NSE data. In particular, values of the membrane bending rigidity extracted from the NSE data using the new approximations were insensitive to the vesicle radii and scattering wavenumber and compared very well with expected values of the effective bending modulus ([Formula: see text]) calculated from results in the literature. Moreover, the generalized scattering theory presented here for an undulating quasi-spherical shell can be easily extended to other models for the membrane undulation dynamics beyond the Helfrich Hamiltonian and thereby provides the foundation for the study of the nanoscale dynamics in more complex and biologically relevant model membrane systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rony Granek
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, and Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer Sheva, Israel.
| | - Ingo Hoffmann
- Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), 71 Avenue des Martys, 38042, Grenoble, CEDEX 9, France.
| | - Elizabeth G Kelley
- Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA.
| | - Michihiro Nagao
- Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Petia M Vlahovska
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Anton Zilman
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 60 St George St, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A7, Canada
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6
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Denker L, Dixon AM. The cell edit: Looking at and beyond non-structural proteins to understand membrane rearrangement in coronaviruses. Arch Biochem Biophys 2024; 752:109856. [PMID: 38104958 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a positive-stranded RNA virus that sits at the centre of the recent global pandemic. As a member of the coronaviridae family of viruses, it shares features such as a very large genome (>30 kb) that is replicated in a purpose-built replication organelle. Biogenesis of the replication organelle requires significant and concerted rearrangement of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, a job that is carried out by a group of integral membrane non-structural proteins (NSP3, 4 and 6) expressed by the virus along with a host of viral replication enzymes and other factors that support transcription and replication. The primary sites for RNA replication within the replication organelle are double membrane vesicles (DMVs). The small size of DMVs requires generation of high membrane curvature, as well as stabilization of a double-membrane arrangement, but the mechanisms that underlie DMV formation remain elusive. In this review, we discuss recent breakthroughs in our understanding of the molecular basis for membrane rearrangements by coronaviruses. We incorporate established models of NSP3-4 protein-protein interactions to drive double membrane formation, and recent data highlighting the roles of lipid composition and host factor proteins (e.g. reticulons) that influence membrane curvature, to propose a revised model for DMV formation in SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Denker
- Warwick Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
| | - Ann M Dixon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7SH, UK.
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7
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Shih KC, Leriche G, Liu CH, He J, John VT, Fang J, Barker JG, Nagao M, Yang L, Yang J, Nieh MP. Antivesiculation and Complete Unbinding of Tail-Tethered Lipids. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:1688-1697. [PMID: 38186288 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
We report the effect of tail-tethering on vesiculation and complete unbinding of bilayered membranes. Amphiphilic molecules of a bolalipid, resembling the tail-tethered molecular structure of archaeal lipids, with two identical zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine headgroups self-assemble into a large flat lamellar membrane, in contrast to the multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) observed in its counterpart, monopolar nontethered zwitterionic lipids. The antivesiculation is confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cyro-TEM). With the net charge of zero and higher bending rigidity of the membrane (confirmed by neutron spin echo (NSE) spectroscopy), the current membrane theory would predict that membranes should stack with each other (aka "bind") due to dominant van der Waals attraction, while the outcome of the nonstacking ("unbinding") membrane suggests that the theory needs to include entropic contribution for the nonvesicular structures. This report pioneers an understanding of how the tail-tethering of amphiphiles affects the structure, enabling better control over the final nanoscale morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Geoffray Leriche
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | | | - Jibao He
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, United States
| | - Vijay T John
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, United States
| | | | - John G Barker
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Michihiro Nagao
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Lin Yang
- National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Jerry Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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8
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Lira RB, Hammond JCF, Cavalcanti RRM, Rous M, Riske KA, Roos WH. The underlying mechanical properties of membranes tune their ability to fuse. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105430. [PMID: 37926280 PMCID: PMC10716014 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane fusion is a ubiquitous process associated with a multitude of biological events. Although it has long been appreciated that membrane mechanics plays an important role in membrane fusion, the molecular interplay between mechanics and fusion has remained elusive. For example, although different lipids modulate membrane mechanics differently, depending on their composition, molar ratio, and complex interactions, differing lipid compositions may lead to similar mechanical properties. This raises the question of whether (i) the specific lipid composition or (ii) the average mesoscale mechanics of membranes acts as the determining factor for cellular function. Furthermore, little is known about the potential consequences of fusion on membrane disruption. Here, we use a combination of confocal microscopy, time-resolved imaging, and electroporation to shed light onto the underlying mechanical properties of membranes that regulate membrane fusion. Fusion efficiency follows a nearly universal behavior that depends on membrane fluidity parameters, such as membrane viscosity and bending rigidity, rather than on specific lipid composition. This helps explaining why the charged and fluid membranes of the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane are more fusogenic than their outer counterparts. Importantly, we show that physiological levels of cholesterol, a key component of biological membranes, has a mild effect on fusion but significantly enhances membrane mechanical stability against pore formation, suggesting that its high cellular levels buffer the membrane against disruption. The ability of membranes to efficiently fuse while preserving their integrity may have given evolutionary advantages to cells by enabling their function while preserving membrane stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael B Lira
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
| | - Jayna C F Hammond
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Madelief Rous
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Karin A Riske
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wouter H Roos
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
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9
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Donina L, Porcar L, Cabral JT. Composition and temperature effects on the solution structure of SDS/octanol/brine by SANS, NMR and microscopy. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:8542-8551. [PMID: 37899739 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01098h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the solution structures of model sodium dodecyl sulfate/octanol/brine ternary mixtures across the lamellar (Lα), vesicle (L4) and micellar (L1) phases employing small angle neutron scattering (SANS), optical microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Specifically, we examine the effect of co-surfactant octanol (0.2-9.48 w/v%) and temperature (25-65 °C) along dilution lines at fixed octanol : SDS ratios (0.08-1.21). A transition from Lα to sponge phase (L3) above 35 °C is found along the octanol : SDS = 1.21 isopleth, with phase coexistence above ϕ ≈ 0.14 weight fraction of surfactant and co-surfactant. The lamellar bilayers swell upon dilution, with an approximately linear increase of d-spacing, accompanied by a decrease of the Caillé parameter, indicative of greater membrane rigidity. At a lower octanol : SDS ratio of 0.62, coexistence of oblate micelles and vesicles is observed with preferential formation of vesicles at low concentrations. Dilution of the L1 phase, along octanol : SDS = 0.08, results in elongated micelles, as the NaCl : SDS ratio increases, while higher temperatures favour the formation of less elongated micelles. Our results provide a detailed map of the equilibrium structures found in the Lα vicinity of this extensively investigated flow-responsive surfactant system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liva Donina
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, UK.
| | - Lionel Porcar
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, B.P. 156, F-38042 Grenoble CEDEX, France
| | - João T Cabral
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, UK.
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10
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Karal MAS, Billah MM, Ahmed M, Ahamed MK. A review on the measurement of the bending rigidity of lipid membranes. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:8285-8304. [PMID: 37873600 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00882g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
This review provides an overview of the latest developments in both experimental and simulation techniques used to assess the bending rigidity of lipid membranes. It places special emphasis on experimental methods that utilize model vesicles to manipulate lipid compositions and other experimental parameters to determine the bending rigidity of the membrane. It also describes two commonly used simulation methods for estimating bending rigidity. The impact of various factors on membrane bending rigidity is summarized, including cholesterol, lipids, salt concentration, surface charge, membrane phase state, peptides, proteins, and polyethylene glycol. These factors are shown to influence the bending rigidity, contributing to a better understanding of the biophysical properties of membranes and their role in biological processes. Furthermore, the review discusses future directions and potential advancements in this research field, highlighting areas where further investigation is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Abu Sayem Karal
- Department of Physics, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.
| | - Md Masum Billah
- Department of Physics, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, Bangladesh
| | - Marzuk Ahmed
- Integrated Bioscience Section, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Md Kabir Ahamed
- Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety Division, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, Agargaon, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
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11
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Aleksanyan M, Grafmüller A, Crea F, Georgiev VN, Yandrapalli N, Block S, Heberle J, Dimova R. Photomanipulation of Minimal Synthetic Cells: Area Increase, Softening, and Interleaflet Coupling of Membrane Models Doped with Azobenzene-Lipid Photoswitches. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2304336. [PMID: 37653602 PMCID: PMC10625111 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Light can effectively interrogate biological systems in a reversible and physiologically compatible manner with high spatiotemporal precision. Understanding the biophysics of photo-induced processes in bio-systems is crucial for achieving relevant clinical applications. Employing membranes doped with the photolipid azobenzene-phosphatidylcholine (azo-PC), a holistic picture of light-triggered changes in membrane kinetics, morphology, and material properties obtained from correlative studies on cell-sized vesicles, Langmuir monolayers, supported lipid bilayers, and molecular dynamics simulations is provided. Light-induced membrane area increases as high as ≈25% and a ten-fold decrease in the membrane bending rigidity is observed upon trans-to-cis azo-PC isomerization associated with membrane leaflet coupling and molecular curvature changes. Vesicle electrodeformation measurements and atomic force microscopy reveal that trans azo-PC bilayers are thicker than palmitoyl-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC) bilayers but have higher specific membrane capacitance and dielectric constant suggesting an increased ability to store electric charges across the membrane. Lastly, incubating POPC vesicles with azo-PC solutions results in the insertion of azo-PC in the membrane enabling them to become photoresponsive. All these results demonstrate that light can be used to finely manipulate the shape, mechanical and electric properties of photolipid-doped minimal cell models, and liposomal drug carriers, thus, presenting a promising therapeutic alternative for the repair of cellular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Aleksanyan
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
- Institute for Chemistry and BiochemistryFreie Universität Berlin14195BerlinGermany
| | - Andrea Grafmüller
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
| | - Fucsia Crea
- Department of PhysicsFreie Universität Berlin14195BerlinGermany
| | - Vasil N. Georgiev
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
| | - Naresh Yandrapalli
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
| | - Stephan Block
- Institute for Chemistry and BiochemistryFreie Universität Berlin14195BerlinGermany
| | - Joachim Heberle
- Department of PhysicsFreie Universität Berlin14195BerlinGermany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesScience Park Golm14476PotsdamGermany
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12
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Krok E, Stephan M, Dimova R, Piatkowski L. Tunable biomimetic bacterial membranes from binary and ternary lipid mixtures and their application in antimicrobial testing. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2023; 1865:184194. [PMID: 37328023 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2023.184194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The reconstruction of accurate yet simplified mimetic models of cell membranes is a very challenging goal of synthetic biology. To date, most of the research focuses on the development of eukaryotic cell membranes, while reconstitution of their prokaryotic counterparts has not been fully addressed, and the proposed models do not reflect well the complexity of bacterial cell envelopes. Here, we describe the reconstitution of biomimetic bacterial membranes with an increasing level of complexity, developed from binary and ternary lipid mixtures. Giant unilamellar vesicles composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE); PC and phosphatidylglycerol (PG); PE and PG; PE, PG and cardiolipin (CA) at varying molar ratios were successfully prepared by the electroformation method. Each of the proposed mimetic models focuses on reproducing specific membrane features such as membrane charge, curvature, leaflets asymmetry, or the presence of phase separation. GUVs were characterized in terms of size distribution, surface charge, and lateral organization. Finally, the developed models were tested against the lipopeptide antibiotic daptomycin. The obtained results showed a clear dependency of daptomycin binding efficiency on the amount of negatively charged lipid species present in the membrane. We anticipate that the models proposed here can be applied not only in antimicrobial testing but also serve as platforms for studying fundamental biological processes in bacteria as well as their interaction with physiologically relevant biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Krok
- Poznan University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Engineering and Technical Physics, Institute of Physics, Piotrowo 3, 60-965 Poznan, Poland; Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Mareike Stephan
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Lukasz Piatkowski
- Poznan University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Engineering and Technical Physics, Institute of Physics, Piotrowo 3, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
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13
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Zhu Q, Tree DR. Simulations of morphology control of self‐assembled amphiphilic surfactants. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20220771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Qinyu Zhu
- Department of Chemical Engineering Brigham Young University Provo Utah USA
| | - Douglas R. Tree
- Department of Chemical Engineering Brigham Young University Provo Utah USA
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14
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Cámara CI, Crosio MA, Juarez AV, Wilke N. Dexamethasone and Dexamethasone Phosphate: Effect on DMPC Membrane Models. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030844. [PMID: 36986705 PMCID: PMC10053563 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Dexamethasone (Dex) and Dexamethasone phosphate (Dex-P) are synthetic glucocorticoids with high anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions that gained visibility because they reduce the mortality in critical patients with COVID-19 connected to assisted breathing. They have been widely used for the treatment of several diseases and in patients under chronic treatments, thus, it is important to understand their interaction with membranes, the first barrier when these drugs get into the body. Here, the effect of Dex and Dex-P on dimyiristoylphophatidylcholine (DMPC) membranes were studied using Langmuir films and vesicles. Our results indicate that the presence of Dex in DMPC monolayers makes them more compressible and less reflective, induces the appearance of aggregates, and suppresses the Liquid Expanded/Liquid Condensed (LE/LC) phase transition. The phosphorylated drug, Dex-P, also induces the formation of aggregates in DMPC/Dex-P films, but without disturbing the LE/LC phase transition and reflectivity. Insertion experiments demonstrate that Dex induces larger changes in surface pressure than Dex-P, due to its higher hydrophobic character. Both drugs can penetrate membranes at high lipid packings. Vesicle shape fluctuation analysis shows that Dex-P adsorption on GUVs of DMPC decreases membrane deformability. In conclusion, both drugs can penetrate and alter the mechanical properties of DMPC membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candelaria Ines Cámara
- Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Fisicoquímica de Córdoba (INFIQC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +54-9-351-5353570
| | - Matías Ariel Crosio
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
- Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Ana Valeria Juarez
- Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Fisicoquímica de Córdoba (INFIQC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Natalia Wilke
- Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
- Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
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15
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Marzola Coronel MB, Fraenza CC, Anoardo E. On the deformability of additivated phosphatidylcholine liposomes: Molecular dynamic regimes and membrane elasticity. Chem Phys Lipids 2023; 252:105290. [PMID: 36842618 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2023.105290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Liposomes with enhanced elasticity have been proven to increase the efficiency of drug transport across the skin. The understanding of the background physicochemical processes driving the liposome viscoelastic properties is an essential feature for the design of effective formulations involving different lipids and additive molecules. In this work we use field-cycled nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry to analyze both the mechanical properties of liposome membranes, and their relationship with the involved molecular dynamics. Different liposomal formulations were considered. We show a correlation between the molecular dynamical regime and mesoscopic physical parameters that define the expected deformability of the vesicles. Results strongly suggest that the purity of the used lipids may influence the elastic properties of the membranes in an appreciable way. Common features in the behaviour of the involved dynamic variables were identified by comparing formulations with surfactants of similar molecular weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B Marzola Coronel
- Laboratorio de Relaxometría y Técnicas Especiales (LaRTE) FaMAF, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and IFEG - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - C C Fraenza
- Laboratorio de Relaxometría y Técnicas Especiales (LaRTE) FaMAF, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and IFEG - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - E Anoardo
- Laboratorio de Relaxometría y Técnicas Especiales (LaRTE) FaMAF, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and IFEG - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.
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16
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Abdel-Gawad WM, Abdelmohsen M, Gaber MH, Khalil WMA, Abu-Elmagd MSM. Molecular dynamics simulation of phosphatidylcholine membrane in low ionic strengths of sodium chloride. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:13891-13901. [PMID: 36812302 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2183040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The one-microsecond molecular dynamics simulations of a membrane-protein complex investigate the influence of the aqueous sodium chloride solutions on the structure and dynamics of a palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine bilayer membrane. The simulations were performed on five different concentrations (40, 150, 200, 300, and 400 mM) in addition to a salt-free system by using the charmm36 force field for all atoms. Four biophysical parameters, (membrane thicknesses of annular and bulk lipids, and the area per lipid of both leaflets), were computed separately. Nevertheless, the area per lipid was expressed by using the Voronoi algorithm. All time-independent analyses were carried out for the last 400 ns trajectories. Different concentrations revealed dissimilar membrane dynamics before equilibration. The biophysical properties of the membrane (thickness, area-per-lipid, and order parameter) have non-significant changes with increasing ionic strength, however, the 150 mM system had exceptional behavior. Sodium cations were dynamically penetrating the membrane forming weak coordinate bonds with single or multiple lipids. Nevertheless, the binding constant was unaffected by the cation concentration. The electrostatic and Van der Waals energies of lipid-lipid interactions were influenced by the ionic strength. On the other hand, the Fast Fourier Transform was performed to figure out the dynamics at the membrane-protein interface. The nonbonding energies of membrane-protein interactions and order parameters explained the differences in the synchronization pattern. All results were consensus with experimental and theoretical works.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahmoud Abdelmohsen
- Biophysics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
- Mathematics and Engineering Physics Department, The Higher Institute of Engineering, Shorouk Academy, El-Shorouk City, Cairo, Egypt
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17
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Saha T, Heuer A, Galic M. Systematic analysis of curvature-dependent lipid dynamics in a stochastic 3D membrane model. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:1330-1341. [PMID: 36692259 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01260j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
To minimize the free energy of the system, lipid membranes display curvature-dependent rearrangements at the local and global scale. The optimal membrane shape is generally approximated by averaging the curvature preference of individual lipids across the whole surface. Potential stress due to imperfections in lipid packing caused by local lipid inhomogeneities, however, is frequently neglected. Here, we developed a stochastic 3D membrane model to investigate the relevance of this parameter for shape-dependent lipid and membrane dynamics. A systematic analysis of the discretized Helfrich type Hamiltonian indicates that stress-energy arising from imperfections in packing is analogous to van der Waals interactions, jointly determining membrane shape and localization of curvature-sensitive lipids based on their relative strengths. Insights from this work can be used to characterize natural and design synthetic agents for membrane-shape changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanumoy Saha
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Muenster, Germany.
- Cells in Motion' Interfaculty Centre, University of Muenster, Germany.
- CIM-IMPRS Graduate School, Muenster, Germany
| | - Andreas Heuer
- Cells in Motion' Interfaculty Centre, University of Muenster, Germany.
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Muenster, Germany
| | - Milos Galic
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Muenster, Germany.
- Cells in Motion' Interfaculty Centre, University of Muenster, Germany.
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18
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Li JH, Trivedi V, Diz-Muñoz A. Understanding the interplay of membrane trafficking, cell surface mechanics, and stem cell differentiation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 133:123-134. [PMID: 35641408 PMCID: PMC9703995 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells can generate a diversity of cell types during development, regeneration and adult tissue homeostasis. Differentiation changes not only the cell fate in terms of gene expression but also the physical properties and functions of cells, e.g. the secretory activity, cell shape, or mechanics. Conversely, these activities and properties can also regulate differentiation itself. Membrane trafficking is known to modulate signal transduction and thus has the potential to control stem cell differentiation. On the other hand, membrane trafficking, particularly from and to the plasma membrane, depends on the mechanical properties of the cell surface such as tension within the plasma membrane or the cortex. Indeed, recent findings demonstrate that cell surface mechanics can also control cell fate. Here, we review the bidirectional relationships between these three fundamental cellular functions, i.e. membrane trafficking, cell surface mechanics, and stem cell differentiation. Furthermore, we discuss commonly used methods in each field and how combining them with new tools will enhance our understanding of their interplay. Understanding how membrane trafficking and cell surface mechanics can guide stem cell fate holds great potential as these concepts could be exploited for directed differentiation of stem cells for the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Hui Li
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstraße 1, Heidelberg 69117, Germany
| | - Vikas Trivedi
- EMBL, PRBB, Dr. Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain,Developmental Biology Unit, EMBL, Meyerhofstraße 1, Heidelberg 69117, Germany
| | - Alba Diz-Muñoz
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstraße 1, Heidelberg 69117, Germany.
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19
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Gahan CG, Van Lehn RC, Blackwell HE, Lynn DM. Interactions of Bacterial Quorum Sensing Signals with Model Lipid Membranes: Influence of Membrane Composition on Membrane Remodeling. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:295-307. [PMID: 36534123 PMCID: PMC10038191 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We report the influence of membrane composition on the multiscale remodeling of multicomponent lipid bilayers initiated by contact with the amphiphilic bacterial quorum sensing signal N-(3-oxo)-dodecanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12-AHL) and its anionic headgroup hydrolysis product, 3-oxo-C12-HS. We used fluorescence microscopy and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) to characterize membrane reformation that occurs when these amphiphiles are placed in contact with supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) composed of (i) 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) containing varying amounts of cholesterol or (ii) mixtures of DOPC and either 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE, a conical zwitterionic lipid) or 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (DOPS, a model anionic lipid). In general, we observe these mixed-lipid membranes to undergo remodeling events, including the formation and subsequent collapse of long tubules and the formation of hemispherical caps, upon introduction to biologically relevant concentrations of 3-oxo-C12-AHL and 3-oxo-C12-HS in ways that differ substantially from those observed in single-component DOPC membranes. These differences in bilayer reformation and their associated dynamics can be understood in terms of the influence of membrane composition on the time scales of molecular flip-flop, lipid packing defects, and lipid phase segregation in these materials. The lipid components investigated here are representative of classes of lipids that comprise both naturally occurring cell membranes and many useful synthetic soft materials. These studies thus represent a first step toward understanding the ways in which membrane composition can impact interactions with this important class of bacterial signaling molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Curran G. Gahan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1415 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Reid C. Van Lehn
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1415 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Helen E. Blackwell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - David M. Lynn
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1415 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, USA
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20
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Avalos-Padilla Y, Georgiev VN, Ewins E, Robinson T, Orozco E, Lipowsky R, Dimova R. Stepwise remodeling and subcompartment formation in individual vesicles by three ESCRT-III proteins. iScience 2022; 26:105765. [PMID: 36590172 PMCID: PMC9800321 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) is a multi-protein machinery involved in several membrane remodeling processes. Different approaches have been used to resolve how ESCRT proteins scission membranes. However, the underlying mechanisms generating membrane deformations are still a matter of debate. Here, giant unilamellar vesicles, microfluidic technology, and micropipette aspiration are combined to continuously follow the ESCRT-III-mediated membrane remodeling on the single-vesicle level for the first time. With this approach, we identify different mechanisms by which a minimal set of three ESCRT-III proteins from Entamoeba histolytica reshape the membrane. These proteins modulate the membrane stiffness and spontaneous curvature to regulate bud size and generate intraluminal vesicles even in the absence of ATP. We demonstrate that the bud stability depends on the protein concentration and membrane tension. The approaches introduced here should open the road to diverse applications in synthetic biology for establishing artificial cells with several membrane compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunuen Avalos-Padilla
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany,Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, ES-08028 Barcelona, Spain,Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, ES-08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vasil N. Georgiev
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Eleanor Ewins
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Tom Robinson
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Esther Orozco
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, CINVESTAV IPN, 07360 Ciudad de México, México
| | - Reinhard Lipowsky
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany,Corresponding author
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21
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Joseph A, Wagner AM, Garay-Sarmiento M, Aleksanyan M, Haraszti T, Söder D, Georgiev VN, Dimova R, Percec V, Rodriguez-Emmenegger C. Zwitterionic Dendrimersomes: A Closer Xenobiotic Mimic of Cell Membranes. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2206288. [PMID: 36134536 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202206288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Building functional mimics of cell membranes is an important task toward the development of synthetic cells. So far, lipid and amphiphilic block copolymers are the most widely used amphiphiles with the bilayers by the former lacking stability while membranes by the latter are typically characterized by very slow dynamics. Herein, a new type of Janus dendrimer containing a zwitterionic phosphocholine hydrophilic headgroup (JDPC ) and a 3,5-substituted dihydrobenzoate-based hydrophobic dendron is introduced. JDPC self-assembles in water into zwitterionic dendrimersomes (z-DSs) that faithfully recapitulate the cell membrane in thickness, flexibility, and fluidity, while being resilient to harsh conditions and displaying faster pore closing dynamics in the event of membrane rupture. This enables the fabrication of hybrid DSs with components of natural membranes, including pore-forming peptides, structure-directing lipids, and glycans to create raft-like domains or onion vesicles. Moreover, z-DSs can be used to create active synthetic cells with life-like features that mimic vesicle fusion and motility as well as environmental sensing. Despite their fully synthetic nature, z-DSs are minimal cell mimics that can integrate and interact with living matter with the programmability to imitate life-like features and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Joseph
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Anna M Wagner
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Manuela Garay-Sarmiento
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Chair of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mina Aleksanyan
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Tamás Haraszti
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Dominik Söder
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Vasil N Georgiev
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Virgil Percec
- Roy & Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104323, USA
| | - Cesar Rodriguez-Emmenegger
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Bioinspired Interactive Materials and Protocellular Systems, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Carrer de Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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22
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Aleksanyan M, Faizi HA, Kirmpaki MA, Vlahovska PM, Riske KA, Dimova R. Assessing membrane material properties from the response of giant unilamellar vesicles to electric fields. ADVANCES IN PHYSICS: X 2022; 8:2125342. [PMID: 36211231 PMCID: PMC9536468 DOI: 10.1080/23746149.2022.2125342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of the material properties of membranes is crucial to understanding cell viability and physiology. A number of methods have been developed to probe membranes in vitro, utilizing the response of minimal biomimetic membrane models to an external perturbation. In this review, we focus on techniques employing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), model membrane systems, often referred to as minimal artificial cells because of the potential they offer to mimick certain cellular features. When exposed to electric fields, GUV deformation, dynamic response and poration can be used to deduce properties such as bending rigidity, pore edge tension, membrane capacitance, surface shear viscosity, excess area and membrane stability. We present a succinct overview of these techniques, which require only simple instrumentation, available in many labs, as well as reasonably facile experimental implementation and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Aleksanyan
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University of Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hammad A. Faizi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Maria-Anna Kirmpaki
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Petia M. Vlahovska
- Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Karin A. Riske
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, 04039-032 Brazil
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
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23
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Donina L, Porcar L, Cabral JT. Effect of salt on the lamellar L α-to-MLV transformation in SDS/octanol/water under microfluidic flow. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:7010-7019. [PMID: 35912998 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00643j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the effect of added (NaCl) salt and varying flow rate on the phase behaviour and flow response of a model surfactant Lα phase, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/octanol/water, using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and polarised optical microscopy in microfluidics, supported by NMR, viscosity, conductivity and zeta potential measurements. A long (∼3 m) tubular microchannel device is employed to quantify the spatiotemporal structural evolution of the system towards multilamellar vesicles (MLV). The effect of salt is rationalised in terms of changes in membrane bending rigidity and phase stability. It is shown that ∼1.8 w/w% NaCl addition results in MLV formation within the shortest time (or equivalent lengthscale) and yields near-centrosymmetric scattering profiles characteristic of MLVs (at a reference 1 mL h-1 flow rate and ≃90 s-1 shear rate). Further salt addition yields biphasic systems that remain strongly aligned under flow, while lower salt content also increases scattering anisotropy, accompanied by higher membrane rigidity and solution viscosity. Increasing flow rate causes greater initial Lα alignment, and thus flow anisotropy, but also faster evolution towards isotropy and MLV formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liva Donina
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Lionel Porcar
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, B.P. 156, F-38042 Grenoble Cedex, France
| | - João T Cabral
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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24
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Maleš P, Pem B, Petrov D, Jurašin DD, Bakarić D. Deciphering the origin of the melting profile of unilamellar phosphatidylcholine liposomes by measuring the turbidity of its suspensions. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:6703-6715. [PMID: 36017811 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00878e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The elucidation of the thermal properties of phosphatidylcholine liposomes is often based on the analysis of the thermal capacity profiles of multilamellar liposomes (MLV), which may qualitatively disagree with those of unilamellar liposomes (LUV). Experiments and interpretation of LUV liposomes is further complicated by aggregation and lamellarization of lipid bilayers in a short time period, which makes it almost impossible to distinguish the signatures of the two types of bilayers. To characterize independently MLV and LUV of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), the latter were prepared with the addition of small amounts of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) which, due to the sterical hindrance and negative charge at a given pH value, cause LUV repellence and contribute to their stability. Differential scanning calorimetry curves and temperature-dependent UV/Vis spectra of the prepared MLV and LUV were measured. Multivariate analysis of spectrophotometric data determined the phase transition temperatures (pretransition at Tp and the main phase transition at Tm), and based on the changes in turbidities, the thickness of the lipid bilayer in LUV was determined. The obtained data suggested that the curvature change is a key distinguishing factor in MLV and LUV heat capacity profiles. By combining the experimental results and those obtained by MD simulations, the interfacial water layer was characterized and its contribution to the thermal properties of LUV was discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Maleš
- Division for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Barbara Pem
- Division for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Dražen Petrov
- Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Darija Domazet Jurašin
- Division for Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Danijela Bakarić
- Division for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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25
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Faizi HA, Tsui A, Dimova R, Vlahovska PM. Bending Rigidity, Capacitance, and Shear Viscosity of Giant Vesicle Membranes Prepared by Spontaneous Swelling, Electroformation, Gel-Assisted, and Phase Transfer Methods: A Comparative Study. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:10548-10557. [PMID: 35993569 PMCID: PMC9671160 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Closed lipid bilayers in the form of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are commonly used membrane models. Various methods have been developed to prepare GUVs, however it is unknown if all approaches yield membranes with the same elastic, electric, and rheological properties. Here, we combine flickering spectroscopy and electrodefomation of GUVs to measure, at identical conditions, membrane capacitance, bending rigidity and shear surface viscosity of palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) membranes formed by several commonly used preparation methods: thin film hydration (spontaneous swelling), electroformation, gel-assisted swelling using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) or agarose, and phase-transfer. We find relatively similar bending rigidity value across all the methods except for the agarose hydration method. In addition, the capacitance values are similar except for vesicles prepared via PVA gel hydration. Intriguingly, membranes prepared by the gel-assisted and phase-transfer methods exhibit much higher shear viscosity compared to electroformation and spontaneous swelling, likely due to remnants of polymers (PVA and agarose) and oils (hexadecane and mineral) in the lipid bilayer structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hammad A Faizi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Annie Tsui
- Department of Industrial Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Petia M Vlahovska
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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Dolder N, Müller P, von Ballmoos C. Experimental platform for the functional investigation of membrane proteins in giant unilamellar vesicles. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:5877-5893. [PMID: 35916307 PMCID: PMC9364335 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00551d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are micrometer-sized model membrane systems that can be viewed directly under the microscope. They serve as scaffolds for the bottom-up creation of synthetic cells, targeted drug delivery and have been widely used to study membrane related phenomena in vitro. GUVs are also of interest for the functional investigation of membrane proteins that carry out many key cellular functions. A major hurdle to a wider application of GUVs in this field is the diversity of existing protocols that are optimized for individual proteins. Here, we compare PVA assisted and electroformation techniques for GUV formation under physiologically relevant conditions, and analyze the effect of immobilization on vesicle structure and membrane tightness towards small substrates and protons. There, differences in terms of yield, size, and leakage of GUVs produced by PVA assisted swelling and electroformation were found, dependent on salt and buffer composition. Using fusion of oppositely charged membranes to reconstitute a model membrane protein, we find that empty vesicles and proteoliposomes show similar fusion behavior, which allows for a rapid estimation of protein incorporation using fluorescent lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Dolder
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Philipp Müller
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Christoph von Ballmoos
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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27
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An C, Wang X, Song F, Hu J, Li L. Insights into intercellular receptor-ligand binding kinetics in cell communication. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:953353. [PMID: 35837553 PMCID: PMC9273785 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.953353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-cell communication is crucial for cells to sense, respond and adapt to environmental cues and stimuli. The intercellular communication process, which involves multiple length scales, is mediated by the specific binding of membrane-anchored receptors and ligands. Gaining insight into two-dimensional receptor-ligand binding kinetics is of great significance for understanding numerous physiological and pathological processes, and stimulating new strategies in drug design and discovery. To this end, extensive studies have been performed to illuminate the underlying mechanisms that control intercellular receptor-ligand binding kinetics via experiment, theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. It has been well established that the cellular microenvironment where the receptor-ligand interaction occurs plays a vital role. In this review, we focus on the advances regarding the regulatory effects of three factors including 1) protein-membrane interaction, 2) biomechanical force, and 3) bioelectric microenvironment to summarize the relevant experimental observations, underlying mechanisms, as well as their biomedical significances and applications. Meanwhile, we introduce modeling methods together with experiment technologies developed for dealing with issues at different scales. We also outline future directions to advance the field and highlight that building up systematic understandings for the coupling effects of these regulatory factors can greatly help pharmaceutical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyi An
- School of Biology and Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Department of Cell Biology and Department of Cardiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohuan Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Engineering Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinglei Hu
- Kuang Yaming Honors School and Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Jinglei Hu, ; Long Li,
| | - Long Li
- State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jinglei Hu, ; Long Li,
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28
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Khunpetch P, Majee A, Podgornik R. Curvature effects in charge-regulated lipid bilayers. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:2597-2610. [PMID: 35294512 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01665b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We formulate a theory of electrostatic interactions in lipid bilayer membranes where both monolayer leaflets contain dissociable moieties that are subject to charge regulation. We specifically investigate the coupling between membrane curvature and charge regulation of a lipid bilayer vesicle using both the linear Debye-Hückel (DH) and the non-linear Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) theory. We find that charge regulation of an otherwise symmetric bilayer membrane can induce charge symmetry breaking, non-linear flexoelectricity and anomalous curvature dependence of free energy. The pH effects investigated go beyond the paradigm of electrostatic renormalization of the mechano-elastic properties of membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petch Khunpetch
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Arghya Majee
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Germany
- IV. Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Rudolf Podgornik
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Kavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Wenzhou Institute of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Theoretical Physics, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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29
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Faizi HA, Dimova R, Vlahovska PM. A vesicle microrheometer for high-throughput viscosity measurements of lipid and polymer membranes. Biophys J 2022; 121:910-918. [PMID: 35176271 PMCID: PMC8943812 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Viscosity is a key property of cell membranes that controls mobility of embedded proteins and membrane remodeling. Measuring it is challenging because existing approaches involve complex experimental designs and/or models, and the applicability of some methods is limited to specific systems and membrane compositions. As a result there is scarcity of systematic data, and the reported values for membrane viscosity vary by orders of magnitude for the same system. Here, we show how viscosity of membranes can be easily obtained from the transient deformation of giant unilamellar vesicles. The approach enables a noninvasive, probe-independent, and high-throughput measurement of the viscosity of membranes made of lipids or polymers with a wide range of compositions and phase state. Using this novel method, we have collected a significant amount of data that provides insights into the relation between membrane viscosity, composition, and structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hammad A Faizi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Petia M Vlahovska
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
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30
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Karal MAS, Mokta NA, Levadny V, Belaya M, Ahmed M, Ahamed MK, Ahammed S. Effects of cholesterol on the size distribution and bending modulus of lipid vesicles. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263119. [PMID: 35089965 PMCID: PMC8797199 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of cholesterol fraction in the membranes of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) on their size distributions and bending moduli has been investigated. The membranes of GUVs were synthesized by a mixture of two elements: electrically neutral lipid 1, 2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and cholesterol and also a mixture of three elements: electrically charged lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1′-rac-glycerol) (DOPG), DOPC and cholesterol. The size distributions of GUVs have been presented by a set of histograms. The classical lognormal distribution is well fitted to the histograms, from where the average size of vesicle is obtained. The increase of cholesterol content in the membranes of GUVs increases the average size of vesicles in the population. Using the framework of Helmholtz free energy of the system, the theory developed by us is extended to explain the experimental results. The theory determines the influence of cholesterol on the bending modulus of membranes from the fitting of the proper histograms. The increase of cholesterol in GUVs increases both the average size of vesicles in population and the bending modulus of membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Abu Sayem Karal
- Department of Physics, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- * E-mail:
| | - Nadia Akter Mokta
- Department of Physics, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Victor Levadny
- Theoretical Problem Center of Physico-Chemical Pharmacology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina Belaya
- Department of Mathematics of Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marzuk Ahmed
- Department of Physics, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Kabir Ahamed
- Department of Physics, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shareef Ahammed
- Department of Physics, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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31
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Sugiyama H, Osaki T, Takeuchi S, Toyota T. Role of Negatively Charged Lipids Achieving Rapid Accumulation of Water-Soluble Molecules and Macromolecules into Cell-Sized Liposomes against a Concentration Gradient. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:112-121. [PMID: 34967642 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Liposomes, molecular self-assemblies resembling biological membranes, are a promising scaffold to investigate the physicochemical logic behind the complexity of living cells. Despite elaborate synthetic studies constructing cell-like chemical systems using liposomes, less attention has been paid to the proactive role of the membrane emerging as dynamics of the molecular self-assembly. This study investigated the liposomes containing anionic phospholipids by exposing them to steady flow conditions using a newly constructed automatic microfluidic observation platform. We demonstrated that the liposomes accumulated even macromolecules under the microfluidic condition without pore formation. By investigating the effect of composition of liposomes and visualizing negatively charged phospholipids upon the flow, we presumed that the external flow caused a compositional asymmetry of anionic phospholipids between the inner/outer leaflets, and the asymmetry enabled a rapid accumulation of those molecules against the concentration gradient. The current study opens new research interests regarding the nature of biological membranes under steady flow conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironori Sugiyama
- Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Toshihisa Osaki
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
- Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan
| | - Shoji Takeuchi
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
- Department of Mechano-Informatics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Taro Toyota
- Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
- Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
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32
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Nair KS, Raj NB, Nampoothiri KM, Mohanan G, Acosta-Gutiérrez S, Bajaj H. Curved membrane structures induced by native lipids in giant vesicles. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 611:397-407. [PMID: 34963074 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.12.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Native lipids in cell-membrane support crucial functions like intercell communication via their ability to deform into curved membrane structures. Cell membrane mimicking Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV) is imperative in understanding native lipid's role in membrane transformation however remains challenging to assemble. We construct two giant vesicle models mimicking bacterial inner-membrane (IM) and outer-membrane (OM) under physiological conditions using single-step gel-assisted lipid swelling. IM vesicles composed of native bacterial lipids undergo small-scale membrane remodeling into bud and short-nanotube structures. In contrast, OM vesicles asymmetrically assembled from Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and bacterial lipids underwent global membrane deformation under controlled osmotic stress. Remarkably, highly-curved structures mimicking cell-membrane architectures, including daughter vesicle networks interconnected by necks and nano-tubes ranging from micro to nanoscale, are generated in OM vesicles at osmotic stress comparable to that applied in IM vesicles. Further, we provide a quantitative description of the membrane structures by experimentally determining membrane elastic parameters, i.e., neck curvature and bending rigidity. We can conclude that a larger spontaneous curvature estimated from the neck curvature and softer membranes in OM vesicles is responsible for large-scale deformation compared to IM vesicles. Our findings will help comprehend the shape dynamics of complex native bacterial lipid membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthika S Nair
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR- National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum 695019, Kerala, India
| | - Neethu B Raj
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR- National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum 695019, Kerala, India
| | - K Madhavan Nampoothiri
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR- National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum 695019, Kerala, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre, Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Gayathri Mohanan
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR- National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum 695019, Kerala, India
| | - Silvia Acosta-Gutiérrez
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, UK.
| | - Harsha Bajaj
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR- National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Trivandrum 695019, Kerala, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre, Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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33
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Surface Properties of Synaptosomes in the Presence of L-Glutamic and Kainic Acids: In Vitro Alteration of the ATPase and Acetylcholinesterase Activities. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11120987. [PMID: 34940488 PMCID: PMC8708669 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11120987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Morphologically and functionally identical to brain synapses, the nerve ending particles synaptosomes are biochemically derived membrane structures responsible for the transmission of neural information. Their surface and mechanical properties, measured in vitro, provide useful information about the functional activity of synapses in the brain in vivo. Glutamate and kainic acid are of particular interest because of their role in brain pathology (including causing seizure, migraine, ischemic stroke, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hematoma, traumatic brain injury and stroke). The effects of the excitatory neurotransmitter L-glutamic acid and its agonist kainic acid are tested on Na+, K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities in synaptic membranes prepared from the cerebral cortex of rat brain tissue. The surface parameters of synaptosome preparations from the cerebral cortex in the presence of L-glutamic and kainic acids are studied by microelectrophoresis for the first time. The studied neurotransmitters promote a significant increase in the electrophoretic mobility and surface electrical charge of synaptosomes at 1–4 h after isolation. The measured decrease in the bending modulus of model bimolecular membranes composed of monounsaturated lipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine provides evidence for softer membranes in the presence of L-glutamate. Kainic acid does not affect membrane mechanical stability even at ten-fold higher concentrations. Both the L-glutamic and kainic acids reduce acetylcholinesterase activity and deviation from the normal functions of neurotransmission in synapses is presumed. The presented results regarding the modulation of the enzyme activity of synaptic membranes and surface properties of synaptosomes are expected by biochemical and biophysical studies to contribute to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitters/agonists’ action on membranes.
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34
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Marušič N, Zhao Z, Otrin L, Dimova R, Ivanov I, Sundmacher K. Fusion-Induced Growth of Biomimetic Polymersomes: Behavior of Poly(dimethylsiloxane)-Poly(ethylene oxide) Vesicles in Saline Solutions Under High Agitation. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 43:e2100712. [PMID: 34820929 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Giant unilamellar vesicles serve as membrane models and primitive mockups of natural cells. With respect to the latter use, amphiphilic polymers can be used to replace phospholipids in order to introduce certain favorable properties, ultimately allowing for the creation of truly synthetic cells. These new properties also enable the employment of new preparation procedures that are incompatible with the natural amphiphiles. Whereas the growth of lipid compartments to micrometer dimensions has been well established, growth of their synthetic analogs remains underexplored. Here, the influence of experimental parameters like salt type/concentration and magnitude of agitation on the fusion of nanometer-sized vesicles made of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-poly(ethylene oxide) graft copolymer (PDMS-g-PEO) is investigated in detail. To this end, dynamic light scattering, microscopy, and membrane mixing assays are employed, and the process at different time and length scales is analyzed. This optimized method is used as an easy tool to obtain giant vesicles, equipped with membrane and cytosolic biomachinery, in the presence of salts at physiological concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nika Marušič
- Process Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstraße 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ziliang Zhao
- Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14424, Potsdam, Germany.,Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology e.V., 07745, Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Institute of Applied Optics and Biophysics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Lado Otrin
- Process Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstraße 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ivan Ivanov
- Process Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstraße 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Kai Sundmacher
- Process Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstraße 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
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35
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Chakraborty K, Khatua P, Shinoda W, Loverde SM. Domain Formation in Charged Polymer Vesicles. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Chakraborty
- Department of Chemistry, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, New York 10314, United States
| | - Prabir Khatua
- Department of Chemistry, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, New York 10314, United States
| | - Wataru Shinoda
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Sharon M. Loverde
- Department of Chemistry, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, New York 10314, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Physics, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
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36
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Otrin L, Witkowska A, Marušič N, Zhao Z, Lira RB, Kyrilis FL, Hamdi F, Ivanov I, Lipowsky R, Kastritis PL, Dimova R, Sundmacher K, Jahn R, Vidaković-Koch T. En route to dynamic life processes by SNARE-mediated fusion of polymer and hybrid membranes. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4972. [PMID: 34404795 PMCID: PMC8371082 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25294-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of artificial cells springs from the functionalization of liposomes with proteins. However, these models suffer from low durability without repair and replenishment mechanisms, which can be partly addressed by replacing the lipids with polymers. Yet natural membranes are also dynamically remodeled in multiple cellular processes. Here, we show that synthetic amphiphile membranes also undergo fusion, mediated by the protein machinery for synaptic secretion. We integrated fusogenic SNAREs in polymer and hybrid vesicles and observed efficient membrane and content mixing. We determined bending rigidity and pore edge tension as key parameters for fusion and described its plausible progression through cryo-EM snapshots. These findings demonstrate that dynamic membrane phenomena can be reconstituted in synthetic materials, thereby providing new tools for the assembly of synthetic protocells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lado Otrin
- Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Agata Witkowska
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Cell Biology, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, Germany
| | - Nika Marušič
- Process Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ziliang Zhao
- Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Rafael B Lira
- Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Fotis L Kyrilis
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem & Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Biozentrum, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Farzad Hamdi
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem & Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Biozentrum, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Ivan Ivanov
- Process Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Lipowsky
- Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Panagiotis L Kastritis
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem & Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Biozentrum, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Department of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Kai Sundmacher
- Process Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Jahn
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tanja Vidaković-Koch
- Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg, Germany
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37
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The Elucidation of the Molecular Mechanism of the Extrusion Process. MATERIALS 2021; 14:ma14154278. [PMID: 34361472 PMCID: PMC8348501 DOI: 10.3390/ma14154278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Extrusion is a popular method for producing homogenous population of unilamellar liposomes. The technique relies on forcing a lipid suspension through cylindrical pores in a polycarbonate membrane. The quantification of the extrusion and/or recalibration processes make possible the acquisition of experimental data, which can be correlated with the mechanical properties of the lipid bilayer. In this work, the force needed for the extrusion process was correlated with the mechanical properties of a lipid bilayer derived from other experiments. Measurements were performed using a home-made dedicated device capable of maintaining a stable volumetric flux of a liposome suspension through well-defined pores and to continuously measure the extrusion force. Based on the obtained results, the correlation between the lipid bilayer bending rigidity and extrusion force was derived. Specifically, it was found that the bending rigidity of liposomes formed from well-defined lipid mixtures agrees with data obtained by others using flicker-noise spectroscopy or micromanipulation. The other issue addressed in the presented studies was the identification of molecular mechanisms leading to the formation of unilamellar vesicles in the extrusion process. Finally, it was demonstrated that during the extrusion, lipids are not exchanged between vesicles, i.e., vesicles can divide but no membrane fusion or lipid exchange between bilayers was detected.
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38
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Teo RD, Tieleman DP. Modulation of Phospholipid Bilayer Properties by Simvastatin. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:8406-8418. [PMID: 34296883 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c03359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Simvastatin (Zocor) is one of the most prescribed drugs for reducing high cholesterol. Although simvastatin is ingested in its inactive lactone form, it is converted to its active dihydroxyheptanoate form by carboxylesterases in the liver. The dihydroxyheptanoate form can also be converted back to its original lactone form. Unfortunately, some of the side effects associated with the intake of simvastatin and other lipophilic statins at higher doses include statin-associated myopathy (SAM) and, in more severe cases, kidney failure. While the cause of SAM is unknown, it is hypothesized that these side effects are dependent on the localization of statins in lipid bilayers and their impact on bilayer properties. In this work, we carry out all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on both the lactone and dihydroxyheptanoate forms of simvastatin (termed "SN" and "SA", respectively) with a pure 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipid bilayer and a POPC/cholesterol (30 mol %) binary mixture as membrane models. Additional simulations were carried out with multiple simvastatin molecules to mimic in vitro conditions that produced pleiotropic effects. Both SN and SA spontaneously diffused into the lipid bilayer, and a longer simulation time of 4 μs was needed for the complete incorporation of multiple SAs into the bilayer. By constructing potential mean force and electron density profiles, we find that SN localizes deeper within the hydrophobic interior of the bilayer and that SA has a greater tendency to form hydrogen-bonding interactions with neighboring water molecules and lipid headgroups. For the pure POPC bilayer, both SN and SA increase membrane order, while membrane fluidity increases for the POPC/cholesterol bilayer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijie D Teo
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - D Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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39
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Faizi HA, Dimova R, Vlahovska PM. Electromechanical characterization of biomimetic membranes using electrodeformation of vesicles. Electrophoresis 2021; 42:2027-2032. [PMID: 34297846 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202100091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We describe a facile method to simultaneously measure the bending rigidity and capacitance of biomimetic lipid bilayers. Our approach utilizes the ellipsoidal deformation of quasi-spherical giant unilamellar vesicles induced by a uniform AC electric field. Vesicle shape depends on the electric field frequency and amplitude. Membrane bending rigidity can be obtained from the variation of the vesicle elongation on either field amplitude at fixed frequency or frequency at fixed field amplitude. Membrane capacitance is determined from the frequency at which the vesicle shape changes from prolate to oblate ellipsoid as the frequency is increased at a given field amplitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hammad A Faizi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Department of Theory and Biosystems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Petia M Vlahovska
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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40
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Rzycki M, Drabik D, Szostak-Paluch K, Hanus-Lorenz B, Kraszewski S. Unraveling the mechanism of octenidine and chlorhexidine on membranes: Does electrostatics matter? Biophys J 2021; 120:3392-3408. [PMID: 34214528 PMCID: PMC8391085 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing problem of antibiotic resistance in bacteria requires the development of new antimicrobial candidates. There are several well-known substances with commercial use, but their molecular mode of action is not fully understood. In this work, we focus on two commonly used antimicrobial agents from the detergent family—octenidine dichloride (OCT) and chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX). Both of them are reported to be agents selectively attacking the cell membrane through interaction inducing membrane disruption by emulsification. They are believed to present electrostatic selectivity toward charged lipids. In this study, we tested this hypothesis and revised previously proposed molecular mechanisms of action. Employing a variety of techniques such as molecular dynamics, ζ potential with dynamic light scattering, vesicle fluctuation spectroscopy, carboxyfluorescein leakage measurement, and fluorescence trimethylammonium-diphenylhexatriene- and diphenylhexatriene-based studies for determination of OCT and CHX membrane location, we performed experimental studies using two model membrane systems—zwitterionic PC and negatively charged PG (18:1/18:1):PC (16:0/18:1) 3:7, respectively. These studies were extended by molecular dynamics simulations performed on a three-component bacterial membrane model system to further test interactions with another negatively charged lipid, cardiolipin. In summary, our study demonstrated that detergent selectivity is far more complicated than supposed simple electrostatic interactions. Although OCT does disrupt the membrane, our results suggest that its primary selectivity was more linked to mechanical properties of the membrane. On the other hand, CHX did not disrupt membranes as a primary activity, nor did it show any sign of electrostatic selectivity toward negatively charged membranes at any stage of interactions, which suggests membrane disruption by influencing more discrete membrane properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Rzycki
- Department of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Dominik Drabik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland; Laboratory of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Kamila Szostak-Paluch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland; Research and Development Center, Regional Specialized Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Beata Hanus-Lorenz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Sebastian Kraszewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
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41
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Ergüder MF, Deserno M. Identifying systematic errors in a power spectral analysis of simulated lipid membranes. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:214103. [PMID: 34240970 DOI: 10.1063/5.0049448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The elastic properties of lipid membranes can be measured by monitoring their thermal fluctuations. For instance, comparing the power spectra of membrane shape or lipid director fluctuations with predictions based on suitable continuum theories gives access to bending-, tilt-, and twist-moduli. However, to do so in a computer simulation, we must first define a continuum surface shape and lipid director field from the discrete configurations of lipid molecules in a typically fairly small box. Here, we show that the required mapping choices, as well as the details of the subsequent data analysis, can shift the measured values of these moduli by far more than their statistical uncertainties. We investigate the resulting systematic errors on the basis of atomistic simulation trajectories for 13 different lipids, previously published by Venable et al. [Chem. Phys. Lipids 192, 60-74 (2015)]. Specifically, we examine mapping choices for surface- and tilt-field definitions, normalizing and averaging lipid directors, accounting for wave vector dependent time autocorrelations, error propagation, and finding the right fitting range. We propose a set of criteria that may help to decide upon a particular combination of choices underlying the fluctuation analysis, and we make several recommendations based on these. While systematic shifts in observables that are extracted from large-wavelength limits vanish, in principle, for sufficiently large system size, no such exact limit exists for intrinsically local parameters, such as the twist modulus or the splay-tilt coupling, and so not all potential choices can be trivially verified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammed F Ergüder
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
| | - Markus Deserno
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
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42
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Lira RB, Leomil FSC, Melo RJ, Riske KA, Dimova R. To Close or to Collapse: The Role of Charges on Membrane Stability upon Pore Formation. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2004068. [PMID: 34105299 PMCID: PMC8188222 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202004068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Resealing of membrane pores is crucial for cell survival. Membrane surface charge and medium composition are studied as defining regulators of membrane stability. Pores are generated by electric field or detergents. Giant vesicles composed of zwitterionic and negatively charged lipids mixed at varying ratios are subjected to a strong electric pulse. Interestingly, charged vesicles appear prone to catastrophic collapse transforming them into tubular structures. The spectrum of destabilization responses includes the generation of long-living submicroscopic pores and partial vesicle bursting. The origin of these phenomena is related to the membrane edge tension, which governs pore closure. This edge tension significantly decreases as a function of the fraction of charged lipids. Destabilization of charged vesicles upon pore formation is universal-it is also observed with other poration stimuli. Disruption propensity is enhanced for membranes made of lipids with higher degree of unsaturation. It can be reversed by screening membrane charge in the presence of calcium ions. The observed findings in light of theories of stability and curvature generation are interpreted and mechanisms acting in cells to prevent total membrane collapse upon poration are discussed. Enhanced membrane stability is crucial for the success of electroporation-based technologies for cancer treatment and gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael B. Lira
- Departamento de BiofísicaUniversidade Federal de São PauloSão Paulo04039‐032Brazil
- Department of Theory and BiosystemsMax Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesPotsdam14424Germany
- Present address:
Moleculaire BiofysicaZernike InstituutRijksuniversiteitGroningen9747 AGThe Netherlands
| | | | - Renan J. Melo
- Instituto de FísicaUniversidade de São PauloSão Paulo05508‐090Brazil
| | - Karin A. Riske
- Departamento de BiofísicaUniversidade Federal de São PauloSão Paulo04039‐032Brazil
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Department of Theory and BiosystemsMax Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesPotsdam14424Germany
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43
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How to Achieve High Encapsulation Efficiencies for Macromolecular and Sensitive APIs in Liposomes. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13050691. [PMID: 34064746 PMCID: PMC8150985 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13050691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This research highlights the capacity of a newly introduced centrifugation process to form liposomes from water-in-fluorocarbon nano-emulsions stabilized with phospholipids to incorporate macromolecular and sensitive active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The encapsulation efficiency of the produced liposomes, incorporating fluorescein-sodium, bovine serum albumin and fluorecein isothiocyanate dextran as model APIs, is determined by applying Vivaspin® centrifugation filtration and quantified by UV-Vis spectroscopy. It was found that higher densities of the fluorocarbons used as the hydrophobic phase enable a higher encapsulation efficiency and that an efficiency of up to 98% is possible depending on the used phospholipid. Among the engineering aspects of the process, a comparison between different membrane substances was performed. Efficiency increases with a higher phospholipid concentration but decreases with the addition of cholesterol. Due to the higher bending modulus, liposome formation is slowed down by cholesterol during liposome closure leading to a greater leakage of the model API. The encapsulation of bovine serum albumin and dextran, both investigated under different osmotic conditions, shows that an efflux negatively affects the encapsulation efficiency while an influx increases the stability. Overall, the process shows the potential for a very high encapsulation efficiency for macromolecules and future pharmaceutical applications.
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44
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EPA and DHA differentially modulate membrane elasticity in the presence of cholesterol. Biophys J 2021; 120:2317-2329. [PMID: 33887229 PMCID: PMC8390804 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) modify the activity of a wide range of membrane proteins and are increasingly hypothesized to modulate protein activity by indirectly altering membrane physical properties. Among the various physical properties affected by PUFAs, the membrane area expansion modulus (Ka), which measures membrane strain in response to applied force, is expected to be a significant controller of channel activity. Yet, the impact of PUFAs on membrane Ka has not been measured previously. Through a series of micropipette aspiration studies, we measured the apparent Ka (Kapp) of phospholipid model membranes containing nonesterified fatty acids. First, we measured membrane Kapp as a function of the location of the unsaturated bonds and degree of unsaturation in the incorporated fatty acids and found that Kapp generally decreases in the presence of fatty acids with three or more unsaturated bonds. Next, we assessed how select ω-3 PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), affect the Kapp of membranes containing cholesterol. In vesicles prepared with high amounts of cholesterol, which should increase the propensity of the membrane to phase segregate, we found that inclusion of DHA decreases the Kapp in comparison to EPA. We also measured how these ω-3 PUFAs affect membrane fluidity and bending rigidity to determine how membrane Kapp changes in relation to these other physical properties. Our study shows that PUFAs generally decrease the Kapp of membranes and that EPA and DHA have differential effects on Kapp when membranes contain higher levels of cholesterol. Our results suggest membrane phase behavior and the distribution of membrane-elasticizing amphiphiles impact the ability of a membrane to stretch.
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45
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Morita M, Noda N. Membrane Shape Dynamics-Based Analysis of the Physical Properties of Giant Unilamellar Vesicles Prepared by Inverted Emulsion and Hydration Techniques. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:2268-2275. [PMID: 33555886 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) is a basic model of the cell membrane that allows for the modulation and control of membrane shape dynamics, which play essential roles in the functions of living cell membranes. However, to properly use these artificial cell-like model systems, we need to understand their physical properties. GUV generation techniques are key technologies in the synthesis of artificial cell-like model systems. However, it is unclear whether GUVs produced by different techniques have the same physical properties. Here, we have investigated the physical properties of GUVs prepared by inverted emulsion and hydration techniques by examining the membrane shape deformation induced by external stimulation with a nonionic surfactant. We reveal differences in the spontaneous curvature of the membrane, the preferred differential area between the inner and outer leaflets of the membrane, and the edge tension of membrane pores between the GUVs prepared using the two distinct techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masamune Morita
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan
| | - Naohiro Noda
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan
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46
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Has
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
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47
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Lipid-Nucleic Acid Complexes: Physicochemical Aspects and Prospects for Cancer Treatment. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25215006. [PMID: 33126767 PMCID: PMC7662579 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25215006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is an extremely complex disease, typically caused by mutations in cancer-critical genes. By delivering therapeutic nucleic acids (NAs) to patients, gene therapy offers the possibility to supplement, repair or silence such faulty genes or to stimulate their immune system to fight the disease. While the challenges of gene therapy for cancer are significant, the latter approach (a type of immunotherapy) starts showing promising results in early-stage clinical trials. One important advantage of NA-based cancer therapies over synthetic drugs and protein treatments is the prospect of a more universal approach to designing therapies. Designing NAs with different sequences, for different targets, can be achieved by using the same technologies. This versatility and scalability of NA drug design and production on demand open the way for more efficient, affordable and personalized cancer treatments in the future. However, the delivery of exogenous therapeutic NAs into the patients’ targeted cells is also challenging. Membrane-type lipids exhibiting permanent or transient cationic character have been shown to associate with NAs (anionic), forming nanosized lipid-NA complexes. These complexes form a wide variety of nanostructures, depending on the global formulation composition and properties of the lipids and NAs. Importantly, these different lipid-NA nanostructures interact with cells via different mechanisms and their therapeutic potential can be optimized to promising levels in vitro. The complexes are also highly customizable in terms of surface charge and functionalization to allow a wide range of targeting and smart-release properties. Most importantly, these synthetic particles offer possibilities for scaling-up and affordability for the population at large. Hence, the versatility and scalability of these particles seem ideal to accommodate the versatility that NA therapies offer. While in vivo efficiency of lipid-NA complexes is still poor in most cases, the advances achieved in the last three decades are significant and very recently a lipid-based gene therapy medicine was approved for the first time (for treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis). Although the path to achieve efficient NA-delivery in cancer therapy is still long and tenuous, these advances set a new hope for more treatments in the future. In this review, we attempt to cover the most important biophysical and physicochemical aspects of non-viral lipid-based gene therapy formulations, with a perspective on future cancer treatments in mind.
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48
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Faizi HA, Reeves CJ, Georgiev VN, Vlahovska PM, Dimova R. Fluctuation spectroscopy of giant unilamellar vesicles using confocal and phase contrast microscopy. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:8996-9001. [PMID: 32966528 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00943a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A widely used method to measure the bending rigidity of bilayer membranes is fluctuation spectroscopy, which analyses the thermally-driven membrane undulations of giant unilamellar vesicles recorded with either phase-contrast or confocal microscopy. Here, we analyze the fluctuations of the same vesicle using both techniques and obtain consistent values for the bending modulus. We discuss the factors that may lead to discrepancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hammad A Faizi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA. and Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Cody J Reeves
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Vasil N Georgiev
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Petia M Vlahovska
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA. and Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany.
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49
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De Mel JU, Gupta S, Perera RM, Ngo L, Zolnierczuk P, Bleuel M, Pingali SV, Schneider GJ. Influence of External NaCl Salt on Membrane Rigidity of Neutral DOPC Vesicles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:9356-9367. [PMID: 32672981 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c01004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a very common molecule in biotic and abiotic aqueous environments. In both cases, variation of ionic strength is inevitable. In addition to the osmotic variation posed by such perturbations, the question of whether the interactions of monovalent ions Na+ and Cl-, especially with the neutral head groups of phospholipid membranes are impactful enough to change the membrane rigidity, is still not entirely understood. We investigated the dynamics of 1,2-di-(octadecenoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) vesicles with zwitterionic neutral head groups in the fluid phase with increasing external salt concentration. At higher salt concentrations, we observe an increase in bending rigidity from neutron spin echo (NSE) spectroscopy and an increase in bilayer thickness from small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). We compared different models to distinguish membrane undulations, lipid tail motions, and the translational diffusion of the vesicles. All of the models indicate an increase in bending rigidity by a factor of 1.3-3.6. We demonstrate that even down to t > 10 ns and for Q > 0.07 Å-1, the observed NSE relaxation spectra are influenced by translational diffusion of the vesicles. For t < 5 ns, the lipid tail motion dominates the intermediate dynamic structure factor. As the salt concentration increases, this contribution diminishes. We introduced a time-dependent analysis for the bending rigidity that highlights only a limited Zilman-Granek time window in which the rigidity is physically meaningful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith U De Mel
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Sudipta Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Rasangi M Perera
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Ly Ngo
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Piotr Zolnierczuk
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS), Outstation at SNS, POB 2008, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Markus Bleuel
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8562, United States
| | - Sai Venkatesh Pingali
- Neutron Sciences Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), POB 2008, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Gerald J Schneider
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
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50
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Colafemmina G, Palazzo G, Mateos H, Amin S, Fameau AL, Olsson U, Gentile L. The cooling process effect on the bilayer phase state of the CTAC/cetearyl alcohol/water surfactant gel. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2020.124821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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