Shape affects the interactions of nanoparticles with pulmonary surfactant

Abstract

The interactions with the pulmonary surfactant, the initial biological barrier of respiratory pathway, determine the potential therapeutic applications and toxicological effects of inhaled nanoparticles (NPs). Although much attention has been paid to optimize the physicochemical properties of NPs for improved delivery and targeting, shape effects of the inhaled NPs on their interactions with the pulmonary surfactant are still far from clear. Here, we studied the shape effects of NPs on their penetration abilities and structural disruptions to the dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) monolayer (being model pulmonary surfactant film) using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that during the inspiration process (i.e., surfactant film expansion), shape effects are negligible. However, during the expiration process (i.e., surfactant film compression), NPs of different shapes show various penetration abilities and degrees of structural disruptions to the DPPC monolayer. We found that rod-like NPs showed the highest degree of penetration and the smallest side-effects to the DPPC monolayer. Our results may provide a useful insight into the design of NPs for respiratory therapeutics.

Surface patterning of single-walled carbon nanotubes enhances their perturbation on a pulmonary surfactant monolayer: frustrated translocation and bilayer vesiculation

“…2h). Note that the similar trapping behaviors of solid rodlike NPs in PSM were reported recently by Lin et al 44 As will be discussed below, the failure of penetration was mainly ascribed to the mild perturbation of PSM by ultrashort SWCNTs. Besides, the denser lipid packing under PSM compression further restrained the opening of physical defect, thus hindering the penetration of ultrashort SWCNTs through the PSM.…”

Effects of graphene oxide nanosheets on the ultrastructure and biophysical properties of the pulmonary surfactant film

“…29,30,33 It was also found that the shape of nanomaterials strongly impacts their interaction with biomembranes as fullerene, graphene and carbon nanotube show distinctly different translocation behaviors. 30,34–38 Therefore, it is not unexpected that GO, being a 2D nanomaterial, interacts with the PS film differently from spherical NPs studied in our previous work.…”

The Effects of Physicochemical Properties of Nanomaterials on Their Cellular Uptake In Vitro and In Vivo

“…NMs with a sufficiently small size (<100 nm) can more efficiently traverse the surfactant layer and are internalized by lung epidermic cells in comparison with larger nanoparticles . Rod‐shaped nanoparticles show a significantly higher cellular uptake than disk and/or barrel shapes . NMs surface modified with hydrophobic molecules get entangled in the surfactant layer, thereby reducing their final cellular uptake.…”

“…[31] Rod-shaped nanoparticles show a significantly higher cellular uptake than disk and/or barrel shapes. [32] NMs surface modified with hydrophobic molecules get entangled in the surfactant layer, thereby reducing their final cellular uptake. By contrast, their hydrophilic partners have a more efficient cellular uptake might due to a quick traverse through the surfactant layer.…”