Nanoparticle Internalization into Protocells through Dynamic Membrane Remodeling Guided by Electrostatic Repulsion

Area of Science:

• Artificial cell development
• Membrane biophysics
• Nanotechnology applications

Background:

• Biomembranes and selective permeability are crucial for eukaryotic evolution.
• Active transport mechanisms like endocytosis are vital for macromolecular exchange.
• Coupling membrane remodeling with transmembrane transport is challenging for protocell development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a strategy for regulating transmembrane transport in protocell systems.
• To investigate the synergistic interactions between nanoparticles and membranes.
• To create dynamic membrane architecture for macromolecular transport in artificial cells.

Main Methods:

• Utilized functionalized negatively charged nanoparticles for electrostatics-assisted transport.
• Employed giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) as protocell models.
• Combined membrane property analysis and molecular dynamics simulations.

Main Results:

• Successfully induced membrane invagination and vesicle formation using nanoparticle-membrane interactions.
• Achieved nanoparticle transmembrane internalization, triggering transport-like functionality.
• Demonstrated that membrane remodeling maintains structural integrity while promoting endocytosis-like transport and signal transduction.

Conclusions:

• The nanoparticle-electrostatics synergy strategy enables inward membrane remodeling and macromolecular transport in artificial cells.
• Validated the strategy's universality and stability in native phospholipid membrane systems (erythrocytes).
• Provides a promising approach for studying artificial cell membrane dynamics and transport.