Selective flow-induced vesicle rupture to sort by membrane mechanical properties

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Materials Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Ultrasonication induces viscous stresses, causing vesicle and cell rupture, which is crucial for drug delivery and product recovery.
• Controlled rupture of lipid membranes is essential for efficient biomedical and bioprocessing applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate selective flow-induced vesicle rupture based on differences in lipid membrane and vesicle properties.
• To identify conditions for controlled vesicle break-up for potential sorting applications.

Main Methods:

• Vesicles with varied membrane properties (different lipids and cholesterol mixtures) were created.
• Vesicles were subjected to acoustic microstreaming flow generated by ultrasound-driven microbubbles.
• Simultaneous deformation of vesicles with different properties allowed for selectivity determination based on membrane stretching elasticity, vesicle radius, and excess area.

Main Results:

• Selective vesicle rupture was achieved by exploiting differences in membrane properties.
• The study identified conditions for robust selectivity based on membrane composition and mechanical properties.
• Rupture threshold was investigated concerning vesicle radius and excess area.

Conclusions:

• Differences in lipid membrane and vesicle properties enable selective flow-induced vesicle break-up.
• This research facilitates new sorting mechanisms for vesicles, capsules, and cells based on their distinct mechanical properties.
• The findings support advancements in controlled cell membrane manipulation for biotechnological purposes.