Wetting fibers with liposomes

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are crucial model systems for cell membranes.
• Understanding vesicle behavior on surfaces is key for applications like drug delivery and coatings.
• Previous studies have not fully elucidated the spreading dynamics of GUVs on fibrous substrates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the spreading mechanisms of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) on glass microfibers.
• To characterize the unique shape adopted by GUVs on fibers.
• To explore the potential of this phenomenon for developing new fiber coating techniques.

Main Methods:

• Deposition of GUVs onto glass microfiber substrates.
• High-resolution microscopy to observe vesicle morphology and spreading dynamics.
• Analysis of spreading mechanisms, including envelopment and precursor film formation.
• Characterization of vesicle pore formation and liquid leakage.

Main Results:

• GUVs adopt a classical "onduloidal" shape when deposited on glass microfibers.
• Vesicle spreading occurs through simultaneous envelopment and precursor film emission.
• The precursor film spreads significantly faster on microfibers compared to flat surfaces.
• Fast spreading induces membrane tension, leading to transient pore opening and liquid leakage.
• The spreading process is arrested by defects present on the microfiber surface.

Conclusions:

• The interaction of GUVs with microfibers involves distinct spreading mechanisms leading to unique morphologies.
• The accelerated spreading and subsequent pore formation offer a novel pathway for fiber coating.
• This research provides fundamental insights into fluid dynamics at the microscale and opens avenues for materials engineering.