Bridges of Calcium Bicarbonate Tightly Couple Dipolar Lipid Membranes

Insight into structural biophysics from solution X-ray scattering

The current challenges of structural biophysics include determining the structure of large self-assembled complexes, resolving the structure of ensembles of complex structures and their mass fraction, and unraveling the dynamic pathways and mechanisms leading to the formation of complex structures from their subunits. Modern synchrotron solution X-ray scattering data enable simultaneous high-spatial and high-temporal structural data required to address the current challenges of structural biophysics. These data are complementary to crystallography, NMR, and cryo-TEM data. However, the analysis of solution scattering data is challenging; hence many different analysis tools, listed in the SAS Portal (http://smallangle.org/), were developed. In this review, we start by briefly summarizing classical X-ray scattering analyses providing insight into fundamental structural and interaction parameters. We then describe recent developments, integrating simulations, theory, and advanced X-ray scattering modeling, providing unique insights into the structure, energetics, and dynamics of self-assembled complexes. The structural information is essential for understanding the underlying physical chemistry principles leading to self-assembled supramolecular architectures and computational structural refinement.

Dehydration does not affect lipid-based hydration lubrication

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipid bilayers at surfaces massively reduce sliding friction, via the hydration lubrication mechanism acting at their highly-hydrated phosphocholine headgroups, a central paradigm of biological lubrication, particularly at articular cartilage surfaces where low friction is crucial for joint well-being. Nanotribological measurements probed the effect on such lubrication of dehydration by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), known to strongly dehydrate the phosphocholine headgroups of such PC bilayers, i.e. reduce the thickness of the inter-bilayer water layer, and thus expected to substantially degrade the hydration lubrication. Remarkably, and unexpectedly, we found that the dehydration has little effect on the friction. We used several approaches, including atomic force microscopy, small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate this. Our results show that while DMSO clearly removes hydration water from the lipid head-groups, this is offset by both higher areal head-group density and by rigidity-enhancement of the lipid bilayers, both of which act to reduce frictional dissipation. This sheds strong light on the robustness of lipid-based hydration lubrication in biological systems, despite the ubiquitous presence of bio-osmolytes which compete for hydration water.

Reactive Monte Carlo simulations for charge regulation of colloidal particles

We use a reactive Monte Carlo simulation method and the primitive model of electrolyte to study acid-base equilibrium that controls charge regulation in colloidal systems. The simulations are performed in a semi-grand canonical ensemble in which colloidal suspension is in contact with a reservoir of salt and strong acid. The interior of colloidal particles is modeled as a low dielectric medium, different from the surrounding water. The effective colloidal charge is calculated for different numbers of surface acidic groups, pH, salt concentrations, and types of electrolyte. In the case of potassium chloride, the titration curves are compared with the experimental measurements obtained using potentiometric titration. A good agreement is found between simulations and experiments. In the case of lithium chloride, the specific ionic adsorption is taken into account through the partial dehydration of lithium ion.

Contribution of dipolar bridging to phospholipid membrane interactions: A mean-field analysis

We develop a model of interacting zwitterionic membranes with rotating surface dipoles immersed in a monovalent salt and implement it in a field theoretic formalism. In the mean-field regime of monovalent salt, the electrostatic forces between the membranes are characterized by a non-uniform trend: at large membrane separations, the interfacial dipoles on the opposing sides behave as like-charge cations and give rise to repulsive membrane interactions; at short membrane separations, the anionic field induced by the dipolar phosphate groups sets the behavior in the intermembrane region. The attraction of the cationic nitrogens in the dipolar lipid headgroups leads to the adhesion of the membrane surfaces via dipolar bridging. The underlying competition between the opposing field components of the individual dipolar charges leads to the non-uniform salt ion affinity of the zwitterionic membrane with respect to the separation distance; large inter-membrane separations imply anionic excess, while small nanometer-sized separations favor cationic excess. This complex ionic selectivity of zwitterionic membranes may have relevant repercussions on nanofiltration and nanofluidic transport techniques.

Effect of the ammonium salt anion on the structure of doxorubicin complex and PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin nanodrugs

BACKGROUND

In Doxil®, PEGylated nanoliposomes are created by hydration of the lipids in ammonium sulfate, and are remotely loaded with doxorubicin by a transmembrane ammonium gradient. The ammonium sulfate is then removed from the external aqueous phase, surrounding the liposomes, and replaced by an isoosmotic sucrose solution in 10 mM histidine buffer at pH 6.5.

METHODS

We prepared PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) with a series of ammonium monovalent salts that after remote loading became the intraliposome doxorubicin counteranions. We analyzed the liposomes by solution X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, and electron micropscopy.

RESULTS

PLDs prepared with sulfonic acid derivatives as counteranion exhibited chemical and physical stabilities. We determined the effect of these ammonium salt counteranions on the structure, morphology, and thermotropic behavior of the PEGylated nanoliposomes, formed before and after doxorubicin loading, and the bulk properties of the doxorubicin-counteranion complexes. By comparing the structure of the doxorubicin complexes in the bulk and inside the nanoliposomes, we revealed the effect of confinement on the structure and doxorubicin release rate for each of the derivatives of the ammonium sulfonic acid counteranions.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that the extent and direction of the doxorubicin confinement effect and its release rate were strongly dependent on the type of counteranion. The counteranions, however, neither affected the structure and thermotropic behavior of the liposome membrane, nor the thickness and density of the liposome PEG layers. In an additional study, it was demonstrated that PLD made with ammonium-methane sulfonate exhibit a much lower Hand and Foot syndrome.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The structure, physical state, and pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin in PEGylated nanoliposomes, prepared by transmembrane remote loading using gradients of ammonium salts, strongly depend on the counteranions.

Biomineralization at fluid interfaces

Biomineralization is of paramount importance for life on Earth. The delicate balance of physicochemical interactions at the interface between organic and inorganic matter during all stages of biomineralization resembles an extremely high complexity. The coordination of this sophisticated biological machinery and physicochemical scenarios is certainly a wonderful show of nature. Understanding of the biomineralization processes is still far from complete. The recent advances in biomineralization research from the Colloid and Interface Science perspective are reviewed herein. The synergy between this two fields of research is demonstrated. The unique opportunities offered by purposefully designed fluid interfaces, mainly Langmuir monolayers are presented. Biomedical applications of biomineral-based nanostructures are discussed, showing their improved biocompatibility and on-demand delivery features. A brief guide to the array of state-of-the-art experimental techniques for unraveling the mechanisms of biomineralization using fluid interfaces is included. In summary, the fruitful and exciting crossroad between Colloid and Interface Science with Biomineralization is exhibited.