Ion controlled passive nanoparticle uptake in lipid vesicles in theory and experiment

Strobl, F. G.; Czubak, D. M.; Wixforth, A. und Westerhausen, C. (2019): Ion controlled passive nanoparticle uptake in lipid vesicles in theory and experiment. In: Journal of Physics D-Applied Physics, Vol. 52, No. 29, 294001

Abstract

Despite the increasing number of applications of nano-sized particles (NP), there is a lack of systematic basic experimental studies on the physical basics of the interactions between NP and cell membranes. Here, we follow a bottom-up approach and investigate the intake of silica NP by giant unilamellar vesicles. We observe a massive nanoparticle uptake by fluid phase vesicles, but only above a specific ionic strength of the surrounding buffer solution. The uptake rates increase for decreasing NP size and increasing NaCl concentration. A correlation of ionic strength and adhesion force between the lipid membrane and the NP can explain this dependency. We discuss these effects employing a model which considers NP diffusion and an effective membrane permeability due to uptake-induced pores. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the physics behind NP-membrane interactions as well as endocytotic particle uptake in living cells.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Physics
• Research Centers: Center for NanoScience (CENS)
• Subjects: 500 Science > 530 Physics; 500 Science > 500 Science
• ISSN: 0022-3727
• Language: English