Journal Article

IMPULSE-2020-00301

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Gold nanoparticles interacting with synthetic lipid rafts: an AFM investigation

RIDOLFI, A. (Corresponding author) ; CASELLI, L. ; MONTIS, C. ; Mangiapia, G.MLZ* ; BERTI, D. ; BRUCALE, M. ; VALLE, F.

2020
Wiley-Blackwell Oxford [u.a.]

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1111/jmi.12910

Abstract: Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) represent promising examples of engineered nanomaterials, providing interesting biomedicalsolutions in several fields, like therapeutics and diagnostics. Despite the extensive number of investigations motivated bytheir remarkable potential for nanomedicinal applications, the interactions of NPs with biological interfaces are still poorlyunderstood. The effect of NPs on living organisms is mediated by biological barriers, such as the cell plasma membrane,whose lateral heterogeneity is thought to play a prominent role in NPs adsorption and uptake pathways. In particular,biological membranes feature the presence of rafts, that is segregated lipid micro and/or nanodomains in the so-calledliquid ordered phase (Lo), immiscible with the surrounding liquid disordered phase (Ld). Rafts are involved in various biologicalfunctions and act as sites for the selective adsorption of materials on the membrane. Indeed, the thickness mismatchpresent along their boundaries generates energetically favourable conditions for the adsorption of NPs. Despite itsclear implications in NPs internalisation processes and cytotoxicity, a direct proof of the selective adsorption of NPs alongthe rafts’ boundaries is still missing to date. Herewe usemulticomponent supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) as reliable syntheticmodels, reproducing the nanometric lateral heterogeneity of cellmembranes. After being characterised by atomic forcemicroscopy(AFM) and neutron reflectivity (NR), multidomain SLBs are challenged by prototypical inorganic nanoparticles,that is citrated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), under simplified and highly controlled conditions. By exploiting AFM, wedemonstrate that AuNPs preferentially target lipid phase boundaries as adsorption sites. The herein reported studyconsolidates and extends the fundamental knowledge on NPs–membrane interactions,which constitute a key aspect toconsiderwhen designingNPs-related biomedical applications

Keyword(s): Health and Life (1st) ; Soft Condensed Matter (2nd)

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. REFSANS (REFSANS)

Experiment(s):

1. REFSANS: Horizontal TOF Reflectometer with GISANS option (NL2b)

Appears in the scientific report 2020

---

Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; DEAL Wiley ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

---