Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
Obtention of Giant Unilamellar Hybrid Vesicles by Electroformation and Measurement of their Mechanical Properties by Micropipette Aspiration
Published on: January 19, 2020
Effect of aminoglycoside on mechanical properties of zwitterionic phospholipid vesicles
1Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea. jwpark@seoultech.ac.kr
Abstract:
The effect of the aminoglycoside (streptomycin) incorporation on the nanomechanical properties of pure dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles was studied using atomic force microscope (AFM) on mica surface. The vesicles were prepared by extrusion and adsorbed on the mica surface. The forces, measured between an AFM tip and the vesicle, presented that the breakthrough of the tip into the vesicles occurred two times. Each breakthrough represented each penetration of the tip into each bilayer. Force data prior to the first breakthrough were fitted well with the Hertzian model to estimate Young's modulus and bending modulus of the vesicles. It was found that the Young's modulus and bending modulus were not varied with the incorporation of AGs (streptomycins) up to the 1:1 AG/DPPC vesicle system. This result may suggest that the AGs do not lead to the disruption of DPPC packing.
Insights
Aminoglycosides (streptomycins) did not alter the nanomechanical properties of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles. This suggests that these compounds do not disrupt the lipid packing within the vesicle bilayers.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) forms the primary structure of biological membranes.
- Aminoglycosides (AGs) are a class of antibiotics with potential membrane interactions.
- Understanding drug-lipid interactions is crucial for drug delivery and membrane biophysics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of streptomycin incorporation on the nanomechanical properties of DPPC vesicles.
- To determine if streptomycin affects the Young's modulus and bending modulus of lipid bilayers.
- To assess the potential for streptomycin to disrupt DPPC packing at the nanoscale.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of pure DPPC vesicles using extrusion.
- Adsorption of vesicles onto a mica surface for Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis.
- Force measurements using AFM to probe vesicle nanomechanics.
- Application of Hertzian model to analyze force-distance curves and extract mechanical properties.
Main Results:
- Atomic Force Microscopy revealed two breakthrough events per vesicle, corresponding to bilayer penetration.
- Young's modulus and bending modulus were successfully estimated using the Hertzian model.
- No significant variation in Young's modulus or bending modulus was observed with streptomycin incorporation.
- Mechanical properties remained consistent up to a 1:1 AG/DPPC vesicle system.
Conclusions:
- Streptomycin does not appear to alter the nanomechanical properties of DPPC vesicles.
- The observed data suggest that aminoglycosides do not disrupt the packing of DPPC lipids.
- Further studies may explore the implications of these findings for drug-membrane interactions.
More Related Videos
12:18Assembly of Cell Mimicking Supported and Suspended Lipid Bilayer Models for the Study of Molecular Interactions
Published on: August 3, 2021
10:31A Liposome Membrane Permeability Assay for Investigating the Effects of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Groups on Membranotropic Action of Venom PLA2
Published on: September 26, 2025
