Thermoplasmonic nano-rupture of cells reveals annexin V function in plasma membrane repair

Abstract

Living cells respond to nanoscopic thermoplasmonic injury by recruiting an annular ring of annexin V.

Biological Applications of Thermoplasmonics

“…Im( ) ext (1) where the wavenumber is = 2 / m and for small particle sizes (compared to the wavelength of light used) the scattering is negligible, and we find that the absorption that equals the extinction cross section can be approximated as…”

“…Possible future studies along these lines are numerous and should include the possibility of fusing living cells and biomimetic membranes 28,15 and investigating cellular functions like membrane repair. 1 The ability of plasmonic nanoparticles to inflict nanoscopic membrane damage has been exploited in the delivery of nanoparticles to vesicles and cells. 29,30 Nanoparticles were optically injected across the membrane in cells 29 and GUVs 30 by using a pulsed laser, which both triggered a light pressure on the particle and softened the membrane by local heating and facilitated delivery across the membrane (Figure 4A).…”

“…The ability of plasmonic nanoparticles to inflict nanoscopic membrane damage has been exploited in the delivery of nanoparticles to vesicles and cells. , Nanoparticles were optically injected across the membrane in cells and GUVs by using a pulsed laser, which both triggered a light pressure on the particle and softened the membrane by local heating and facilitated delivery across the membrane (Figure A). Recently, a NIR continuous wave (CW) laser was also used for membrane perforation to study pore formation in GUVs and cells by locally disrupting the membrane and subsequently monitoring the recruitment of membrane repair proteins to the annular ring of the nanoscopic injury (Figure B,C) . This approach offers a unique way to study the physical and biological aspects of pore formation in membranes in the presence or absence of proteins.…”

“…(4) Thermoplasmonically induced puncturing of the cell also results in the recruitment of annexin A5 around the site of injury. Panel C was adapted with permission from ref . Copyright 2022 Royal Society of Chemistry.…”

“…Together with the sensitivity of biomaterials to heat, thermoplasmonics will allow unprecedented manipulative control over biological processes in living cells and molecular and biomimetic systems. 1 Thermoplasmonics can be applied for different purposes in biological systems. The local heat produced by laser-irradiated nanoparticles can activate cell sensing and has been employed to study temperature-induced changes in transmembrane potentials in neurons with consequent induction of action potentials, 2 activation of heat shock proteins (HSPs), 3 and modulation of cell differentiation.…”