Engineered nanoparticles have made inroads into many technology and industry sectors, from food, electronics, consumer products, to medicine. As the use of nanoparticles continues to surge, it is critical to assess how the exposure to nanoparticles impacts human health. One major challenge, among many, is to understand the potential toxicity introduced by the surface coatings on the nanoparticles. In this talk, I will present my group’s recent research progress toward understanding how heterogeneous surface chemistry on nanoparticles impacts their interaction with biological membranes and cells. By using “two-faced” Janu nanoparticles with different surface chemistries on two hemispheres, we discovered that spatially separating charges and hydrophobicity on the nanoparticles renders them more potent in perforating lipid membranes. We further demonstrated that the particle-membrane interactions can be tuned by altering the ratio of surface area between the charged and hydrophobic sides on particles. Our studies provide direct evidence that the spatial distribution of surface functionalities on a nanoparticle or a biomolecule, rather than just its overall surface chemistry, plays a crucial role in determining its interaction with biomembranes.

How a heterogeneous surface coating affects nanoparticle interaction with biomembrane

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

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