Dynamic AFM detection of the oxidation-induced changes in size, stiffness, and stickiness of low-density lipoprotein.
J Nanobiotechnology 2020;
18:167. [PMID:
33183326 PMCID:
PMC7664080 DOI:
10.1186/s12951-020-00727-x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is an important plasma lipoprotein transporting lipids to peripheral tissues/cells. The oxidation of LDL plays critical roles in atherogenesis and its oxidized form (oxLDL) is an important risk factor of atherosclerosis. The biomechanical properties of LDL/oxLDL are closely correlated with the disease. To date, however, the oxidation-induced changes in size and biomechanical properties (stiffness and stickiness) of LDL particles are less investigated.
Methods
In this study, copper-induced LDL oxidation was confirmed by detecting electrophoretic mobility, malondialdehyde production, and conjugated diene formation. Then, the topographical and biomechanical mappings of LDL particles before/after and during oxidation were performed by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the size and biomechanical forces of particles were measured and quantitatively analyzed.
Results
Oxidation induced a significant decrease in size and stiffness (Young’s modulus) but a significant increase in stickiness (adhesion force) of LDL particles. The smaller, softer, and stickier characteristics of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) partially explains its pro-atherosclerotic role.
Conclusions
The data implies that LDL oxidation probably aggravates atherogenesis by changing the size and biomechanical properties of LDL particles. The data may provide important information for a better understanding of LDL/oxLDL and atherosclerosis.![]()
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