Modeling the Thermodynamics of the Interaction of Nanoparticles with Cell Membranes

• Published in: Nano letters Vol. 7; no. 12; pp. 3716 - 3722
• Main Authors: Ginzburg, Valeriy V, Balijepalli, Sudhakar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.12.2007
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Cell Membrane - ultrastructure; Computer Simulation; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Drug Therapy - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Lipid Bilayers; Low-dimensional structures (superlattices, quantum well structures, multilayers): structure, and nonelectronic properties; Materials science; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Models, Biological; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Others; Physics; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Thermodynamics; Various methods and equipments; Charge density; Nanoparticles; Surface charge; Particle size; Thermodynamic model; Morphology; Digital simulation; Cytotoxicity; Drug carrier; Nanostructured materials; Medical application
• ISSN: 1530-6984; 1530-6992
• DOI: 10.1021/nl072053l

Interactions between nanoparticles and cell membranes may play a crucial role in determining the cytotoxicity of nanoparticles as well as their potential application as drug delivery vehicles or therapeutic agents. It has been shown that such interactions are often determined not by biochemical but by physicochemical factors (e.g., nanoparticle size, hydrophobicity, and surface charge density). Here, we propose a mesoscale thermodynamic model describing the transitions in membrane morphology observed after exposure to various types of nanoparticles. Our simulations demonstrate under which conditions (determined by particle size and hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions) the particles can adsorb into the membrane or compromise the membrane integrity to result in the formation of nanosized holes. The model could be refined to include a more accurate description of various phospholipid membranes, and its results could be applied in the design of specific nanoparticles for various biomedical applications.