The relevance of membrane models to understand nanoparticles–cell membrane interactions

Abstract

Over the past two decades, numerous types of nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed for medical applications; however only a few nanomedicines are actually available on the market. One reason is the lack of understanding and data concerning the NP fate and their behavior upon contact with biological media and cell membranes. Biomimetic membrane models are interesting tools to approach and understand NPs-cell membrane interactions. The use of these models permits one to control physical and chemical parameters and to rapidly compare membrane types and the influence of different media conditions. The interactions between NPs and cell membranes can be qualified and quantified using analytical and modeling methods. In this review, the major studies concerning NPs-cell membrane models and associated methods are described. The advantages and drawbacks for each method are compared for the different models. The key mechanisms of interactions between NPs and cell membranes are revealed using cell membrane models and are interrogated in comparison with the NP behavior in cellulo or in vivo. Investigating the interactions between NPs and cell membrane models is now proposed as an intermediate step between physicochemical characterization of NPs and biological assays.

PAMAM dendrimer - cell membrane interactions

“…Since the development of the first Langmuir-Blodgett trough in the 1920's, model membranes have since been developed by several groups to explore interactions between lipid molecules and proteins, pharmaceuticals and nanoparticles [6,71] by observing both structural and energetic changes qualitatively and quantitatively. These models include lipid monolayers (first studied by Langmuir and Blodgett [72][73][74]), mesophases [75,76], bilayers [76,77], multilayers, vesicles/ liposomes [78] and computational models [79] (Fig.…”

Nanoparticle–membrane interactions

“…They have many forms including supported or unsupported planar bilayer, spherical vesicles and interfacial monolayers [76][77][78] (Figure 3(A)). The simplified and shape-analogue lipid model membrane used to simulate a cell-like membrane structure is a spherical vesicle or liposome.…”

Adsorption of Nanoceria by Phosphocholine Liposomes

“…[19][20][21] The main components of the cell membrane are lipids with phosphocholine (PC) lipids being the most abundant on the outer membrane of eukaryotic cells. The interactions of PC membranes with various nanomaterials have been studied, [21][22][23][24][25][26] in particular, with various oxides. [27][28][29][30] A primary example is the spontaneous fusion of PC liposomes onto silica forming supported bilayers using van der Waals force.…”