Dissipative particle dynamics simulation of poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(ethyl ethylene) block copolymer properties for enhancement of cell membrane rupture under stress

4/6-Herto-arm and 4/6-mikto-arm star-shaped block polymeric drug-loaded micelles and their pH-responsive controlled release properties: a dissipative particle dynamics simulation

Star-shaped polymers have received significant attention and have been widely developed for prospective applications in drug delivery owing to their topological structure and unique physiochemical characteristics.

How the Incorporation of Pluronic Block Copolymers Modulates the Response of Lipid Membranes to Mechanical Stress

We employ atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effect that the incorporation of the nonionic amphiphilic copolymer known as Pluronic L64 has on the mechanical stability of a DPPC membrane. The simulations reveal that the incorporation of the polymer chains leads to membranes that can sustain increasing mechanical stresses. Analysis of mechanical, structural, and dynamic properties of the membrane shows that the polymer chains interact strongly with the lipids in the vicinity, restraining their mobility and imparting better mechanical stability to the membrane. The hybrid membranes under tension remain thicker, more ordered, and stiffer in comparison to their lipid analogues. Trans-bilayer lipid movements (flip-flop) are observed and appear to be triggered by the presence of the polymer chains. A careful analysis of the pore formation under high tensions reveals two distinctive mechanisms that depend on the distribution of the hydrophilic polymer blocks in the bilayer. Finally, the rate of growth of the formed membrane defects is slowed down in the presence of polymers. These findings show that Pluronic block copolymers could be exploited for the formation of optimized hybrid nanodevices with controlled elastic and dynamic properties.

A vesicle cell under collision with a Janus or homogeneous nanoparticle: translocation dynamics and late-stage morphology

We investigate translocation dynamics of a vesicle cell under collision with a Janus or a homogeneous hydrophobic/hydrophilic nanoparticle. To this end, we perform dissipative particle dynamics simulation by setting the nanoparticle with different initial velocities, different chemical patterns of the surface for the nanoparticle, and different orientations (for the Janus nanoparticle). Particular attention is given to translocation dynamics, in-cell water discharge, and the late-stage morphologies of the vesicle/nanoparticle system after the collision. We observe three late-stage states for the Janus nanoparticle, and four late-stage states for the homogeneous nanoparticles. We find that the late-stage state and the associated dynamical pathway not only depend on the relative velocity but also on the chemical pattern of the nanoparticle surface, as well as on the orientation of the incident Janus nanoparticle. We have examined the time-dependent mean radius of the vesicle, the number of in-cell water beads lost from the vesicle, as well as the collision-induced pore size on the lipid membrane during the course of collision. Our simulation provides microscopic insights into the resilience of the vesicle-cell membrane and dynamical behavior of the vesicle under the attack of a foreign nanoparticle. Knowledge and insights gained through the simulation will have implication to the drug delivery with different chemical coatings.