Membrane fusion results in the transport and mixing of (bio)molecules across otherwise impermeable barriers. As such, there has been significant interest in developing simple, synthetic systems capable of controlled membrane fusion, not least toward applications in vector-based drug delivery. In this communication, we demonstrate, for the first time, temporal control of targeted membrane fusion in model systems using light as an external and exclusive trigger. Our method relies on the steric shielding and rapid, photo-induced de-shielding of complementary fusogenic peptides tethered to opposing liposomal membranes. In an analogous approach, we also demonstrate spatiotemporal control of liposome accumulation at cellular membranes in vitro, paving the way towards high resolution spatiotemporal control of drug and gene delivery, direct to the cell cytoplasm, both in vitro and in vivo.

Spatiotemporal control of membrane fusion through photolabile PEGylation of liposome membranes

251st National Meeting (2016)

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