title: Neutron Reflectometry reveals the interaction between functionalized SPIONs and the surface of lipid bilayers.
abstract: The safe application of nanotechnology devices in biomedicine requires fundamental understanding on how they interact with and affect the different components of biological systems. In this respect, the cellular membrane, the cell envelope, certainly represents an important target or barrier for nanosystems. Here we report on the interaction between functionalized SuperParamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs), promising contrast agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and lipid bilayers that mimic the plasma membrane. Neutron Reflectometry, supported by Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) experiments, was used to characterize this interaction by varying both SPION coating and lipid bilayer composition. In particular, the interaction of two different SPIONs, functionalized with a cationic surfactant and a zwitterionic phospholipid, and lipid bilayers, containing different amount of cholesterol, were compared. The obtained results were further validated by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measurements and Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy (Cryo-TEM) images. None of the investigated functionalized SPIONs were found to disrupt the lipid membrane. However, in all case we observed the attachment of the functionalized SPIONs onto the surface of the bilayers, which was affected by the bilayer rigidity, i.e. the cholesterol concentration.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, via Cintia, 80126 Napoli, Italy; CSGI - Consorzio interuniversitario per lo sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase, Italy; Institut Laue-Langevin, BP 156, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luchini
authors.affiliation: Institut Laue-Langevin, BP 156, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gerelli
authors.affiliation: Institut Laue-Langevin, BP 156, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fragneto
authors.affiliation: Physical Chemistry 1, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, 221 00 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nylander
authors.affiliation: Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunnar K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Pálsson
authors.affiliation: Jülich Centre for Neutron Science, Garching Forschungszentrum, Lichtenbergstrasse 1, D-85747 Garching bei München, Germany.
authors.forename: Marie-Sousai
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Appavou
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, via Cintia, 80126 Napoli, Italy; CSGI - Consorzio interuniversitario per lo sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase, Italy. Electronic address: luigi.paduano@unina.it.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paduano
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002412:Cations; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008857:Microscopy, Interference; D015233:Models, Statistical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D009502:Neutrons; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols / Q000737:chemistry; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D058525:Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002412:Cations; D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols; D010743:Phospholipids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C060037:1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylglycero-3-phosphoglycerol; D002784:Cholesterol; C065507:ferumoxides; C028694:1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine
keywords: Cholesterol; Lysophosphatidylcholine; Neutron reflectometry; SuperParamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs); Supported lipid bilayers