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Cardellini J, Balestri A, Comparini L, Lonetti B, Brucale M, Valle F, Berti D, Montis C. Controlling plasmonic suprastructures through self-assembly of gold nanoparticles with hybrid copolymer-lipid vesicles. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 654:848-858. [PMID: 37898069 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.10.082] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Hybrid lipid membranes incorporating amphiphilic copolymers have gained significant attention due to their potential applications in various fields, including drug delivery and sensing. By combining the properties of copolymers and lipid membranes, such as enhanced chemical tunability and stability, environmental responsiveness, and multidomain nature, novel membrane architectures have been proposed. In this study, we investigated the potentialities of hybrid membranes made of two distinct components: the rigid fully saturated phospholipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and the soft copolymer poly(butadiene-b-ethyleneoxide) (PBD-b-PEO). The objective was to explore the interaction of citrate-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the hybrid membrane, aiming at constructing AuNPs-hybrid vesicles suprastructures with controlled and adjustable plasmonic properties. A series of experimental techniques were employed to investigate hybrid free-standing and supported membranes. The results revealed that the incorporation of the copolymer into the lipid membrane promotes AuNPs clustering, demonstrating a distinctive aggregative phenomenon of citrate-coated AuNPs on multidomain membranes. Importantly, we show that the size and morphology of AuNPs clusters can be precisely controlled in non-homogeneous membranes, enabling the formation of hybrid suprastructures with controlled patch properties. These results highlight the potential of lipid-copolymer hybrid membranes for designing functional materials with tailored plasmonic properties, with potential applications in nanomedicine and sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Cardellini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, and CSGI, Florence, Italy
| | - Arianna Balestri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, and CSGI, Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Comparini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, and CSGI, Florence, Italy
| | - Barbara Lonetti
- Laboratoire des IMRCP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse 31062, France
| | | | | | - Debora Berti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, and CSGI, Florence, Italy
| | - Costanza Montis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, and CSGI, Florence, Italy.
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2
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Fauquignon M, Porcar L, Brûlet A, Le Meins JF, Sandre O, Chapel JP, Schmutz M, Schatz C. In Situ Monitoring of Block Copolymer Self-Assembly via Solvent Exchange through Controlled Dialysis with Light and Neutron Scattering Detection. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:1272-1279. [PMID: 37671995 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Solution self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers (BCs) is typically performed by a solvent-to-water exchange. However, BC assemblies are often trapped in metastable states depending on the mixing conditions such as the magnitude and rate of water addition. BC self-assembly can be performed under near thermodynamic control by dialysis, which accounts for a slow and gradual water addition. In this Letter we report the use of a specifically designed dialysis cell to continuously monitor by dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering the morphological changes of PDMS-b-PEG BCs self-assemblies during THF-to-water exchange. The complete phase diagrams of near-equilibrium structures can then be established. Spherical micelles first form before evolving to rod-like micelles and vesicles, decreasing the total developed interfacial area of self-assembled structures in response to increasing interfacial energy as the water content increases. The dialysis kinetics can be tailored to the time scale of BC self-assembly by modifying the membrane pore size, which is of interest to study the interplay between thermodynamics and kinetics in self-assembly pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Fauquignon
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Lionel Porcar
- Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), F-38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Annie Brûlet
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA) Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | - Olivier Sandre
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Jean-Paul Chapel
- Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal (CRPP), UMR CNRS 5031, Université de Bordeaux, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Marc Schmutz
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Charles Sadron, UPR 22, F-67034 Strasbourg, France
| | - Christophe Schatz
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France
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3
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Phase separation in polymer-based biomimetic structures containing planar membranes. Biointerphases 2022; 17:060802. [PMID: 36575113 DOI: 10.1116/6.0002078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Phase separation in biological membranes is crucial for proper cellular functions, such as signaling and trafficking, as it mediates the interactions of condensates on membrane-bound organelles and transmembrane transport to targeted destination compartments. The separation of a lipid bilayer into phases and the formation of lipid rafts involve the restructuring of molecular localization, their immobilization, and local accumulation. By understanding the processes underlying the formation of lipid rafts in a cellular membrane, it is possible to reconstitute this phenomenon in synthetic biomimetic membranes, such as hybrids of lipids and polymers or membranes composed solely of polymers, which offer an increased physicochemical stability and unlimited possibilities of chemical modification and functionalization. In this article, we relate the main lipid bilayer phase transition phenomenon with respect to hybrid biomimetic membranes, composed of lipids mixed with polymers, and fully synthetic membranes. Following, we review the occurrence of phase separation in biomimetic hybrid membranes based on lipids and/or direct lipid analogs, amphiphilic block copolymers. We further exemplify the phase separation and the resulting properties and applications in planar membranes, free-standing and solid-supported. We briefly list methods leading to the formation of such biomimetic membranes and reflect on their improved overall stability and influence on the separation into different phases within the membranes. Due to the importance of phase separation and compartmentalization in cellular membranes, we are convinced that this compiled overview of this phenomenon will be helpful for any researcher in the biomimicry area.
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Steinkühler J, Jacobs ML, Boyd MA, Villaseñor CG, Loverde SM, Kamat NP. PEO- b-PBD Diblock Copolymers Induce Packing Defects in Lipid/Hybrid Membranes and Improve Insertion Rates of Natively Folded Peptides. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:4756-4765. [PMID: 36318160 PMCID: PMC9667879 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Hybrid membranes assembled from biological lipids and synthetic polymers are a promising scaffold for the reconstitution and utilization of membrane proteins. Recent observations indicate that inclusion of small fractions of polymer in lipid membranes can improve protein folding and function, but the exact structural and physical changes a given polymer sequence imparts on a membrane often remain unclear. Here, we use all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to study the structure of hybrid membranes assembled from DOPC phospholipids and PEO-b-PBD diblock copolymers. We verified our computational model using new and existing experimental data and obtained a detailed picture of the polymer conformations in the lipid membrane that we can relate to changes in membrane elastic properties. We find that inclusion of low polymer fractions induces transient packing defects into the membrane. These packing defects act as insertion sites for two model peptides, and in this way, small amounts of polymer content in lipid membranes can lead to large increases in peptide insertion rates. Additionally, we report the peptide conformational space in both pure lipid and hybrid membranes. Both membranes support similar alpha helical peptide structures, exemplifying the biocompatibility of hybrid membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Steinkühler
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern
University, Evanston, Illinois60208, United States
| | - Miranda L. Jacobs
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern
University, Evanston, Illinois60208, United States
| | - Margrethe A. Boyd
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern
University, Evanston, Illinois60208, United States
| | - Citlayi G. Villaseñor
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern
University, Evanston, Illinois60208, United States
| | - Sharon M. Loverde
- Department
of Chemistry, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, Staten Island, New York10314, United States
| | - Neha P. Kamat
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern
University, Evanston, Illinois60208, United States
- Center
for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois60657, United States
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5
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Di Leone S, Kyropoulou M, Köchlin J, Wehr R, Meier WP, Palivan CG. Tailoring a Solvent-Assisted Method for Solid-Supported Hybrid Lipid-Polymer Membranes. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:6561-6570. [PMID: 35580858 PMCID: PMC9161443 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Combining amphiphilic block copolymers and phospholipids opens new opportunities for the preparation of artificial membranes. The chemical versatility and mechanical robustness of polymers together with the fluidity and biocompatibility of lipids afford hybrid membranes with unique properties that are of great interest in the field of bioengineering. Owing to its straightforwardness, the solvent-assisted method (SA) is particularly attractive for obtaining solid-supported membranes. While the SA method was first developed for lipids and very recently extended to amphiphilic block copolymers, its potential to develop hybrid membranes has not yet been explored. Here, we tailor the SA method to prepare solid-supported polymer-lipid hybrid membranes by combining a small library of amphiphilic diblock copolymers poly(dimethyl siloxane)-poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) and poly(butylene oxide)-block-poly(glycidol) with phospholipids commonly found in cell membranes including 1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, sphingomyelin, and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(glutaryl). The optimization of the conditions under which the SA method was applied allowed for the formation of hybrid polymer-lipid solid-supported membranes. The real-time formation and morphology of these hybrid membranes were evaluated using a combination of quartz crystal microbalance and atomic force microscopy. Depending on the type of polymer-lipid combination, significant differences in membrane coverage, formation of domains, and quality of membranes were obtained. The use of the SA method for a rapid and controlled formation of solid-supported hybrid membranes provides the basis for developing customized artificial hybrid membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Di Leone
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
- School
of Life Sciences, Institute for Chemistry and Bioanalytics, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland
(FHNW), Grundenstrasse
40, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Myrto Kyropoulou
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
- National
Centre of Competence in Research Molecular Systems Engineering (NCCR
MSE), BPR 1095, Mattenstrasse
24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Julian Köchlin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Riccardo Wehr
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang P. Meier
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
- National
Centre of Competence in Research Molecular Systems Engineering (NCCR
MSE), BPR 1095, Mattenstrasse
24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia G. Palivan
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
- National
Centre of Competence in Research Molecular Systems Engineering (NCCR
MSE), BPR 1095, Mattenstrasse
24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
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6
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Heuberger L, Korpidou M, Eggenberger OM, Kyropoulou M, Palivan CG. Current Perspectives on Synthetic Compartments for Biomedical Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5718. [PMID: 35628527 PMCID: PMC9145047 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Nano- and micrometer-sized compartments composed of synthetic polymers are designed to mimic spatial and temporal divisions found in nature. Self-assembly of polymers into compartments such as polymersomes, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), layer-by-layer (LbL) capsules, capsosomes, or polyion complex vesicles (PICsomes) allows for the separation of defined environments from the exterior. These compartments can be further engineered through the incorporation of (bio)molecules within the lumen or into the membrane, while the membrane can be decorated with functional moieties to produce catalytic compartments with defined structures and functions. Nanometer-sized compartments are used for imaging, theranostic, and therapeutic applications as a more mechanically stable alternative to liposomes, and through the encapsulation of catalytic molecules, i.e., enzymes, catalytic compartments can localize and act in vivo. On the micrometer scale, such biohybrid systems are used to encapsulate model proteins and form multicompartmentalized structures through the combination of multiple compartments, reaching closer to the creation of artificial organelles and cells. Significant progress in therapeutic applications and modeling strategies has been achieved through both the creation of polymers with tailored properties and functionalizations and novel techniques for their assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Heuberger
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (L.H.); (M.K.); (O.M.E.); (M.K.)
| | - Maria Korpidou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (L.H.); (M.K.); (O.M.E.); (M.K.)
| | - Olivia M. Eggenberger
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (L.H.); (M.K.); (O.M.E.); (M.K.)
| | - Myrto Kyropoulou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (L.H.); (M.K.); (O.M.E.); (M.K.)
- NCCR-Molecular Systems Engineering, Mattenstrasse 24a, BPR 1095, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia G. Palivan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (L.H.); (M.K.); (O.M.E.); (M.K.)
- NCCR-Molecular Systems Engineering, Mattenstrasse 24a, BPR 1095, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
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7
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Fauquignon M, Ibarboure E, Le Meins JF. Hybrid polymer/lipid vesicles: Influence of polymer architecture and molar mass on line tension. Biophys J 2022; 121:61-67. [PMID: 34890579 PMCID: PMC8758416 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hybrid polymer/lipid vesicles are self-assembled structures that have been the subject of an increasing number of studies in recent years. They are particularly promising tools in the development of cell membrane models because they offer the possibility to fine-tune their membrane structure by adjusting the distribution of components (presence or absence of "raft-like" lipid domains), which is of prime importance to control their membrane properties. Line tension in multiphase membranes is known to be a key parameter on membrane structuration, but remains unexplored, either experimentally or by computer modeling for hybrid polymer/lipid vesicles. In this study, we were able to measure the line tension on different budded hybrid vesicles, using a micropipette aspiration technique, and show the influence of the molar mass and the architecture of block copolymers on line tension and its consequences for membrane structuration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Fauquignon
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, Pessac, France
| | - Emmanuel Ibarboure
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, Pessac, France
| | - Jean-François Le Meins
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, Pessac, France,Corresponding author
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Abstract
Hierarchic self-assembly underpins much of the form and function seen in synthetic or biological soft materials. Lipids are paramount examples, building themselves in nature or synthetically in a variety of meso/nanostructures. Synthetic block copolymers capture many of lipid's structural and functional properties. Lipids are typically biocompatible and high molecular weight polymers are mechanically robust and chemically versatile. The development of new materials for applications like controlled drug/gene/protein delivery, biosensors, and artificial cells often requires the combination of lipids and polymers. The emergent composite material, a "polymer-lipid hybrid membrane", displays synergistic properties not seen in pure components. Specific examples include the observation that hybrid membranes undergo lateral phase separation that can correlate in registry across multiple layers into a three-dimensional phase-separated system with enhanced permeability of encapsulated drugs. It is timely to underpin these emergent properties in several categories of hybrid systems ranging from colloidal suspensions to supported hybrid films. In this review, we discuss the form and function of a vast number of polymer-lipid hybrid systems published to date. We rationalize the results to raise new fundamental understanding of hybrid self-assembling soft materials as well as to enable the design of new supramolecular systems and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoo Kyung Go
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana─Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Cecilia Leal
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana─Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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Chang HY, Tsai HC, Sheng YJ, Tsao HK. Floating and Diving Loops of ABA Triblock Copolymers in Lipid Bilayers and Stability Enhancement for Asymmetric Membranes. Biomacromolecules 2020; 22:494-503. [PMID: 33356177 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Hybrid membranes of lipids and AxByAz triblock copolymers can possess better biocompatibility and mechanical stability. In this work, triblock copolymer conformations and stability of asymmetric membranes are explored by dissipative particle dynamics. The triblock copolymers in the membranes exhibit either the bridge or loop conformation. As hydrophobic B-blocks interact attractively with lipid heads, bridge-shaped copolymers are significantly inhibited and loop-shaped copolymers prefer to stay at the interface between hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers. This floating loop has a flattened conformation, consistent with the experimental findings. In contrast, for repulsive interactions between B-blocks and lipid heads, bridge-shaped copolymers are abundant and loop-shaped copolymers tend to plunge into the hydrophobic layer. This diving loop displays a random coil conformation. The asymmetric membrane in which the fractions of loop-shaped copolymers in the upper and lower leaflets are different is thermodynamically unstable. Two approaches are proposed to acquire kinetically stable asymmetric membranes. First, membrane symmetrization is arrested by eliminating bridge-shaped copolymers, which is achieved by B-block/lipid head attraction and B-block/lipid tail repulsion. Second, asymmetric triblock copolymers (x ≠ z) are used to prevent the passage of the long A-block through the hydrophobic layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Yu Chang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Chi Tsai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jane Sheng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Heng-Kwong Tsao
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli 320, Taiwan
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