The effects of fine particulate matter (&lt; 2.5 𝜇m in diameter, PM<sub>2.5</sub>), particularly black carbon (BC) aerosols, on biological membrane structure, organization and function remain poorly characterized despite the risks that these particles pose to human health and the environment. In order to gain a predictive understanding of how non-biological, nano-sized materials impact membrane organization and function, findings presented in this work use model systems to examine how different sized carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) affect the properties of lipid films adsorbed to aqueous – air interfaces as well as lipid bilayers in vesicles. Data from surface tension measurements show that carbon loadings up to 5% in lipid monolayers increase the isothermal compressibility, with higher loadings and smaller sizes of CNPs appearing more like pure DPPC while lower loadings and larger sizes of CNPs have a more extreme effect on monolayer rigidity. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements indicate that CNPs in aqueous solution do not significantly change DPPC bilayer melting temperature, although the gel-liquid crystalline transition temperature does broaden slightly with less CNP loading and larger CNP size. These results are supported with complementary surface specific vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) experiments. Together, findings presented in this work illustrate how a combination of independent measurement techniques can begin to identify a subtle but measurable particulate affinity for lipid membranes and how these associations depend sensitively on a lipid film’s thermodynamic state.

Carbon accumulation at model biological interfaces: Changes to lipid film structure and organization

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.