The rapid growth and development of engineered nanomaterials coupled with an extensive material base has led to increasing incorporation into consumer products, such as sunscreens and cosmetics, as well as drug delivery agents. In both of these types of applications, nanoparticles come into contact with the membranes of human cells. Our research is geared towards understanding the properties of nanoparticles that influence their interaction with a cell membrane.  The focus of this study is to determine the nano-specific (physical) properties, including size and functionalization of a gold nanoparticle, and to determine how these properties affect the interaction of gold nanoparticles with a supported lipid bilayer (SLB) composed of L-a-phosphatidylcholine (egg PC), which was used as a model cell membrane. For the size experiments, we examined gold nanoparticles that were 2, 5, 10 and 40 nm gold nanoparticles. Analysis of nanoparticle-cell membrane interactions was done using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, which measures the frequency (f )and dissipation (D ) changes directly associated with mass and conformation changes of the SLB. Different overtones for f and D allow for theoretical interpretation of changes correlated to different layers of the membrane. Gold nanoparticles on the size order of =5 nm promoted a more rigid membrane whereas gold nanoparticles =10 nm gave a more flexible membrane. None of the sizes and concentrations tested completely disrupted the cell membrane.  In another portion of the study, we examined the role of chemically-functionalized 12 nm gold nanoparticles on cell membrane interactions (1-propanethiol, 2-mercaptoethanol, 2-aminoethanethiol, or 3-mercaptopropionic acid). Regardless of hydrophobicity and electrostatic charge, all of the functionalized gold nanoparticles decreased the rigidity of the lipid bilayer by increasing the dissipation and decreasing the mass associated with the adsorbed film. These results help in the design of nanocarriers for drug delivery and consumer applications.

Interaction of gold nanoparticles with supported lipid bilayers

247th National Meeting (2014)

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