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05:43
Preparation of Giant Vesicles Encapsulating Microspheres by Centrifugation of a Water-in-oil Emulsion
Published on: January 24, 2017
Designing synthetic vesicles that engulf nanoscopic particles
Kurt A Smith1, David Jasnow, Anna C Balazs
1Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|September 4, 2007
Summary
Controlling particle passage across lipid membranes is possible. A membrane
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Computational Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Lipid bilayer membranes are crucial for cellular processes.
- Controlling the passage of particles across membranes is essential for drug delivery and cellular function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between lipid bilayer membranes and spherical particles.
- To explore mechanisms for controlling particle translocation across vesicle membranes.
Main Methods:
- Dissipative particle dynamics simulations were employed.
- Simulations examined membrane wrapping and particle detachment dynamics.
- Varying adhesion strengths and membrane properties were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Membrane wrapping of particles was observed, resembling phagocytosis.
- A critical adhesion strength was identified for complete particle wrapping.
- Adhesive domains (rafts) promoted particle detachment via membrane fission.
Conclusions:
- Membrane-particle adhesion strength is key to controlling wrapping.
- Raft-mediated fission offers a mechanism for particle translocation across membranes.
- This study provides insights into controlling particle passage for potential biotechnological applications.
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