Raczyński P, Górny K, Bełdowski P, Yuvan S, Dendzik Z. Application of Graphene as a Nanoindenter Interacting with Phospholipid Membranes-Computer Simulation Study.
J Phys Chem B 2020;
124:6592-6602. [PMID:
32633958 PMCID:
PMC7460090 DOI:
10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c02319]
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Abstract
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Synthesis
of graphene (GN) in 2004 stimulated wide interest in
potential applications of 2D materials in catalysis, optoelectronics,
biotechnology, and construction of sensing devices. In the presented
study, interactions between GN sheets and phospholipid bilayers are
examined using steered molecular dynamics simulations. GN sheets of
different sizes were inserted into a bilayer and subsequently withdrawn
from it at two different rates (1 and 2 m/s). In some cases, nanoindentation
led to substantial damage of the phospholipid bilayer; however, an
effective self-sealing process occurred even after significant degradation.
The average force and work, deflection of the membrane during indentation,
withdrawal processes, and structural changes caused by moving sheets
are discussed. These quantities are utilized to estimate the suitability
of GN sheets for targeted drug delivery or other nanomedicine tools.
The results are compared with those obtained for other nanostructures
such as homogeneous and heterogeneous nanotubes.
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