In recent studies, we have investigated how the lipid membrane, one of the most vital structures of a cell, interacts with various types of nanomaterials (polymeric drug carriers, TiO2 nanoparticles, and graphene oxide) using an interaction screening platform based on the quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) technique. QCM-D measures changes in mass and viscoelastic properties at an interface and has also been used to study, in real time, cellular responses in living cells. Pigment translocation processes are essential features of many amphibians, and we study pigment translocation in frog chromatophores in a combined QCM-D and light microscopy set-up. Nanomaterial interactions were evaluated in systems ranging from model biological interfaces to specific effects on cellular functions. The results clearly indicate the potential of the platform as a tool for early characterization and screening of novel nanomaterials.

QCM-D: A useful technique to study interactions between nanomaterials and model lipid membranes or living cells

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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