title: Modulation of phase separation at the micron scale and nanoscale in giant polymer/lipid hybrid unilamellar vesicles (GHUVs).
abstract: Phase separation in giant polymer/lipid hybrid unilamellar vesicles (GHUVs) has been described over the last few years. However there is still a lack of understanding on the physical and molecular factors governing the phase separation in such systems. Among these parameters it has been suggested that in analogy to multicomponent lipid vesicles hydrophobic mismatches as well as lipid fluidity play a role. In this work, we aim to map a global picture of phase separation and domain formation in the membrane of GHUVs by using various copolymers based on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEO) with different architectures (grafted, triblock) and molar masses, combined with phospholipids in the fluid (POPC) or gel state (DPPC) at room temperature. From confocal imaging and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) techniques, the phase separation into either micro- or nano-domains within GHUVs was studied. In particular, our systematic studies demonstrate that in addition to the lipid/polymer fraction or the lipid physical state, important factors such as line tension at lipid polymer/lipid boundaries can be finely modulated by the molar mass and the architecture of the copolymer and lead to the formation of stable lipid domains with different sizes and morphologies in such GHUVs.
authors.affiliation: University of Bordeaux, LCPO UMR 5629, 16 avenue PeyBerland, F-33600 Pessac, France. lemeins@enscbp.fr and CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France and Centro de Química-Física Molecular and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal. fernandesf@ist.utl.pt.
authors.forename: Thi Phuong Tuyen
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.affiliation: Centro de Química-Física Molecular and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal. fernandesf@ist.utl.pt and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 32829-516, Caparica, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: University of Bordeaux, LCPO UMR 5629, 16 avenue PeyBerland, F-33600 Pessac, France. lemeins@enscbp.fr and CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3073-9722
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ibarboure
authors.affiliation: University of Bordeaux, LCPO UMR 5629, 16 avenue PeyBerland, F-33600 Pessac, France. lemeins@enscbp.fr and CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ferji
authors.affiliation: Centro de Química-Física Molecular and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal. fernandesf@ist.utl.pt.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.affiliation: University of Bordeaux, LCPO UMR 5629, 16 avenue PeyBerland, F-33600 Pessac, France. lemeins@enscbp.fr and CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1815-2702
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sandre
authors.affiliation: University of Bordeaux, LCPO UMR 5629, 16 avenue PeyBerland, F-33600 Pessac, France. lemeins@enscbp.fr and CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Le Meins