Nanoparticles are currently being explored as delivery vehicles for small molecule drugs and larger biomacromolecule cargo. To protect the cargo from the <i>in vivo</i> environment a biocompatible coating is required that is both physically and chemically robust yet offers facile release of the cargo once it reaches the targeted site. Here, we report on the triggered release of cargo from lipid bilayer-coated silica particles through a change in solution pH that is analogous to the endosomal uptake pathway. Previously, we reported on the reorganization of lipid bilayers on silica to yield micron-sized pores upon pH change from 7.4 to 5.0. The pore formation was found to be a result of the simultaneous change in lipid curvature and attraction between the lipid membrane and silica. For the former, we found that the cargo release rate was dependent on the lipid membrane’s bending rigidity (e.g., DPPC vs. POPC). For the latter, we found that lipid membranes that are pH insensitive responded poorly to a drop in pH whereas protonatable phosphocholine lipid membranes respond well. This presentation will focus on the release mechanics of small molecule drugs and dyes, and the release of enzymes for colorimetric assays (e.g., glucose oxidase/horse radish peroxidase) and for gene editing (e.g., CRISPR Cas9/sgRNA).

Cargo release mechanics of lipid bilayer coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles

255th National Meeting (2018)

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