Incorporation of nanoparticles into polymersomes: size and concentration effects.
Because of the rapidly growing field of nanoparticles in therapeutic applications, understanding and controlling the interaction between nanoparticles and membranes is of great importance. While a membrane is exposed to nanoparticles its behavior is mediated by both their biological and physical properties. Constant interplay of these biological and physicochemical factors makes selective studies of nanoparticles uptake demanding. Artificial model membranes can serve as a platform to investigate physical parameters of the process in the absence of any biofunctional molecules and/or supplementary energy. Here we report on photon- and fluorescence-correlation spectroscopic studies of the uptake of nanosized SiO(2) nanoparticles by poly(dimethylsiloxane)-block-poly(2-methyloxazoline) vesicles allowing species selectivity. Analogous to the cell membrane, polymeric membrane incorporates particles using membrane fission and particles wrapping as suggested by cryo-TEM imaging. It is revealed that the incorporation process can be controlled to a significant extent by changing nanoparticles size and concentration. Conditions for nanoparticle uptake and controlled filling of polymersomes are presented.
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
Karmena
K
Jaskiewicz
Antje
A
Larsen
David
D
Schaeffel
Kaloian
K
Koynov
Ingo
I
Lieberwirth
George
G
Fytas
Katharina
K
Landfester
Anja
A
Kroeger
D000327:Adsorption; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012822:Silicon Dioxide