1
|
Nambiar N, Loyd ZA, Abel SM. Particle Deformability Enables Control of Interactions between Membrane-Anchored Nanoparticles. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:1732-1739. [PMID: 37844420 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticles adsorbed on a membrane can induce deformations of the membrane that give rise to effective interactions between the particles. Previous studies have focused primarily on rigid nanoparticles with fixed shapes. However, DNA origami technology has enabled the creation of deformable nanostructures with controllable shapes and mechanical properties, presenting new opportunities to modulate interactions between particles adsorbed on deformable surfaces. Here we use coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate deformable, hinge-like nanostructures anchored to lipid membranes via cholesterol anchors. We characterize deformations of the particles and membrane as a function of the hinge stiffness. Flexible particles adopt open configurations to conform to a flat membrane, whereas stiffer particles induce deformations of the membrane. We further show that particles spontaneously aggregate and that cooperative effects lead to changes in their shape when they are close together. Using umbrella sampling methods, we quantify the effective interaction between two particles and show that stiffer hinge-like particles experience stronger and longer-ranged attraction. Our results demonstrate that interactions between deformable, membrane-anchored nanoparticles can be controlled by modifying mechanical properties of the particles, suggesting new ways to modulate the self-assembly of particles on deformable surfaces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Nambiar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Zachary A Loyd
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Steven M Abel
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wijesinghe S, Junghans C, Perahia D, Grest GS. Polydots, soft nanoparticles, at membrane interfaces. RSC Adv 2023; 13:19227-19234. [PMID: 37377875 PMCID: PMC10291257 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra02085a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft nanoparticles (NPs) are emerging candidates for nano medicine, particularly for intercellular imaging and targeted drug delivery. Their soft nature, manifested in their dynamics, allows translocation into organisms without damaging their membranes. A crucial step towards incorporating soft dynamic NPs in nano medicine, is to resolve their interrelation with membranes. Here using atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations we probe the interaction of soft NPs formed by conjugated polymers with a model membrane. These NPs, often termed polydots, are confined to their nano dimensions without any chemical tethers, forming dynamic long lived nano structures. Specifically, polydots formed by dialkyl para poly phenylene ethylene (PPE), with a varying number of carboxylate groups tethered to the alkyl chains to tune the interfacial charge of the surface of the NP are investigated at the interface with a model membrane that consists of di-palmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC). We find that even though polydots are controlled only by physical forces, they retain their NP configuration as they transcend the membrane. Regardless of their size, neutral polydots spontaneously penetrate the membrane whereas carboxylated polydots must be driven in, with a force that depends on the charge at their interface, all without significant disruption to the membrane. These fundamental results provide a means to control the position of the nanoparticles with respect to the membrane interfaces, which is key to their therapeutic use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sidath Wijesinghe
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University Clemson South Carolina 29634 USA
| | | | - Dvora Perahia
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University Clemson South Carolina 29634 USA
| | - Gary S Grest
- Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque New Mexico 87185 USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gamage RS, Chasteen JL, Smith BD. Lipophilic Anchors that Embed Bioconjugates in Bilayer Membranes: A Review. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:961-971. [PMID: 37276240 PMCID: PMC10823363 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A wide range of biomaterials and engineered cell surfaces are composed of bioconjugates embedded in liposome membranes, surface-immobilized bilayers, or the plasma membranes of living cells. This review article summarizes the various ways that Nature anchors integral and peripheral proteins in a cell membrane and describes the strategies devised by chemical biologists to label a membrane protein in living cells. Also discussed are modern synthetic and semisynthetic methods to produce lipidated proteins. Subsequent sections describe methods to anchor a three-component synthetic construct that is composed of a lipophilic membrane anchor, hydrophilic linker, and exposed functional component. The surface exposed payload can be a fluorophore, aptamer, oligonucleotide, polypeptide, peptide nucleic acid, polysaccharide, branched dendrimer, or linear polymer. Hydrocarbon chains are commonly used as the membrane anchor, and a general experimental trend is that a two chain lipid anchor has higher membrane affinity than a cholesteryl or single chain lipid anchor. Amphiphilic fluorescent dyes are effective molecular probes for cell membrane imaging and a zwitterionic linker between the fluorophore and the lipid anchor promotes high persistence in the plasma membrane of living cells. A relatively new advance is the development of switchable membrane anchors as molecular tools for fundamental studies or as technology platforms for applied biomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rananjaya S Gamage
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Jordan L Chasteen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Bradley D Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Canepa E, Bochicchio D, Brosio G, Silva PHJ, Stellacci F, Dante S, Rossi G, Relini A. Cholesterol-Containing Liposomes Decorated With Au Nanoparticles as Minimal Tunable Fusion Machinery. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2207125. [PMID: 36899445 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202207125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Membrane fusion is essential for the basal functionality of eukaryotic cells. In physiological conditions, fusion events are regulated by a wide range of specialized proteins, operating with finely tuned local lipid composition and ionic environment. Fusogenic proteins, assisted by membrane cholesterol and calcium ions, provide the mechanical energy necessary to achieve vesicle fusion in neuromediator release. Similar cooperative effects must be explored when considering synthetic approaches for controlled membrane fusion. We show that liposomes decorated with amphiphilic Au nanoparticles (AuLips) can act as minimal tunable fusion machinery. AuLips fusion is triggered by divalent ions, while the number of fusion events dramatically changes with, and can be finely tuned by, the liposome cholesterol content. We combine quartz-crystal-microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), fluorescence assays, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) with molecular dynamics (MD) at coarse-grained (CG) resolution, revealing new mechanistic details on the fusogenic activity of amphiphilic Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) and demonstrating the ability of these synthetic nanomaterials to induce fusion regardless of the divalent ion used (Ca2+ or Mg2+ ). The results provide a novel contribution to developing new artificial fusogenic agents for next-generation biomedical applications that require tight control of the rate of fusion events (e.g., targeted drug delivery).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ester Canepa
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Genoa, 16146, Italy
- Institute of Materials Science & Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | | | - Giorgia Brosio
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Genoa, 16146, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Stellacci
- Materials Characterization Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, 16163, Italy
| | - Silvia Dante
- Institute of Materials Science & Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Rossi
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Genoa, 16146, Italy
| | - Annalisa Relini
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Genoa, 16146, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Roncaglia C, Ferrando R. Machine Learning Assisted Clustering of Nanoparticle Structures. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:459-473. [PMID: 36597194 PMCID: PMC9875306 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
We propose a scheme for the automatic separation (i.e., clustering) of data sets composed of several nanoparticle (NP) structures by means of Machine Learning techniques. These data sets originate from atomistic simulations, such as global optimizations searches and molecular dynamics simulations, which can produce large outputs that are often difficult to inspect by hand. By combining a description of NPs based on their local atomic environment with unsupervised learning algorithms, such as K-Means and Gaussian mixture model, we are able to distinguish between different structural motifs (e.g., icosahedra, decahedra, polyicosahedra, fcc fragments, twins, and so on). We show that this method is able to improve over the results obtained previously thanks to the successful implementation of a more detailed description of NPs, especially for systems showing a large variety of structures, including disordered ones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cesare Roncaglia
- Physics
Department, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146Genoa, Italy
| | - Riccardo Ferrando
- Physics
Department, University of Genoa and CNR-IMEM, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146Genoa, Italy,E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kariuki R, Penman R, Bryant SJ, Orrell-Trigg R, Meftahi N, Crawford RJ, McConville CF, Bryant G, Voïtchovsky K, Conn CE, Christofferson AJ, Elbourne A. Behavior of Citrate-Capped Ultrasmall Gold Nanoparticles on a Supported Lipid Bilayer Interface at Atomic Resolution. ACS NANO 2022; 16:17179-17196. [PMID: 36121776 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c07751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nanomaterials have the potential to transform biological and biomedical research, with applications ranging from drug delivery and diagnostics to targeted interference of specific biological processes. Most existing research is aimed at developing nanomaterials for specific tasks such as enhanced biocellular internalization. However, fundamental aspects of the interactions between nanomaterials and biological systems, in particular, membranes, remain poorly understood. In this study, we provide detailed insights into the molecular mechanisms governing the interaction and evolution of one of the most common synthetic nanomaterials in contact with model phospholipid membranes. Using a combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we elucidate the precise mechanisms by which citrate-capped 5 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) interact with supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) of pure fluid (DOPC) and pure gel-phase (DPPC) phospholipids. On fluid-phase DOPC membranes, the AuNPs adsorb and are progressively internalized as the citrate capping of the NPs is displaced by the surrounding lipids. AuNPs also interact with gel-phase DPPC membranes where they partially embed into the outer leaflet, locally disturbing the lipid organization. In both systems, the AuNPs cause holistic perturbations throughout the bilayers. AFM shows that the lateral diffusion of the particles is several orders of magnitude smaller than that of the lipid molecules, which creates some temporary scarring of the membrane surface. Our results reveal how functionalized AuNPs interact with differing biological membranes with mechanisms that could also have implications for cooperative membrane effects with other molecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rashad Kariuki
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Rowan Penman
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Saffron J Bryant
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Rebecca Orrell-Trigg
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Nastaran Meftahi
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Russell J Crawford
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Chris F McConville
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
- Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Gary Bryant
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Kislon Voïtchovsky
- University of Durham, Physics Department, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte E Conn
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Andrew J Christofferson
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Aaron Elbourne
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Amphiphilic Gold Nanoparticles: A Biomimetic Tool to Gain Mechanistic Insights into Peptide-Lipid Interactions. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12070673. [PMID: 35877876 PMCID: PMC9324301 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12070673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Functional peptides are now widely used in a myriad of biomedical and clinical contexts, from cancer therapy and tumor targeting to the treatment of bacterial and viral infections. Underlying this diverse range of applications are the non-specific interactions that can occur between peptides and cell membranes, which, in many contexts, result in spontaneous internalization of the peptide within cells by avoiding energy-driven endocytosis. For this to occur, the amphipathicity and surface structural flexibility of the peptides play a crucial role and can be regulated by the presence of specific molecular residues that give rise to precise molecular events. Nevertheless, most of the mechanistic details regulating the encounter between peptides and the membranes of bacterial or animal cells are still poorly understood, thus greatly limiting the biomimetic potential of these therapeutic molecules. In this arena, finely engineered nanomaterials—such as small amphiphilic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) protected by a mixed thiol monolayer—can provide a powerful tool for mimicking and investigating the physicochemical processes underlying peptide-lipid interactions. Within this perspective, we present here a critical review of membrane effects induced by both amphiphilic AuNPs and well-known amphiphilic peptide families, such as cell-penetrating peptides and antimicrobial peptides. Our discussion is focused particularly on the effects provoked on widely studied model cell membranes, such as supported lipid bilayers and lipid vesicles. Remarkable similarities in the peptide or nanoparticle membrane behavior are critically analyzed. Overall, our work provides an overview of the use of amphiphilic AuNPs as a highly promising tailor-made model to decipher the molecular events behind non-specific peptide-lipid interactions and highlights the main affinities observed both theoretically and experimentally. The knowledge resulting from this biomimetic approach could pave the way for the design of synthetic peptides with tailored functionalities for next-generation biomedical applications, such as highly efficient intracellular delivery systems.
Collapse
|
8
|
Roterman I, Stapor K, Fabian P, Konieczny L. Connexins and Pannexins—Similarities and Differences According to the FOD-M Model. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071504. [PMID: 35884807 PMCID: PMC9313468 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Connexins and pannexins are the transmembrane proteins of highly distinguished biological activity in the form of transport of molecules and electrical signals. Their common role is to connect the external environment with the cytoplasm of the cell, while connexin is also able to link two cells together allowing the transport from one to another. The analysis presented here aims to identify the similarities and differences between connexin and pannexin. As a comparative criterion, the hydrophobicity distribution in the structure of the discussed proteins was used. The comparative analysis is carried out with the use of a mathematical model, the FOD-M model (fuzzy oil drop model in its Modified version) expressing the specificity of the membrane’s external field, which in the case of the discussed proteins is significantly different from the external field for globular proteins in the polar environment of water. The characteristics of the external force field influence the structure of protein allowing the activity in a different environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irena Roterman
- Department of Bioinformatics and Telemedicine, Jagiellonian University—Medical College, Medyczna 7, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Katarzyna Stapor
- Department of Applied Informatics, Faculty of Automatic, Electronics and Computer Science, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 16, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Piotr Fabian
- Department of Algorithmics and Software, Faculty of Automatic, Electronics and Computer Science, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 16, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Leszek Konieczny
- Chair of Medical Biochemistry—Jagiellonian University—Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034 Kraków, Poland;
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Marrink SJ, Monticelli L, Melo MN, Alessandri R, Tieleman DP, Souza PCT. Two decades of Martini: Better beads, broader scope. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Siewert J. Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute & Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Luca Monticelli
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB ‐ UMR 5086) CNRS & University of Lyon Lyon France
| | - Manuel N. Melo
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Oeiras Portugal
| | - Riccardo Alessandri
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering University of Chicago Chicago Illinois USA
| | - D. Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary Alberta Canada
| | - Paulo C. T. Souza
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB ‐ UMR 5086) CNRS & University of Lyon Lyon France
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lavagna E, Bochicchio D, De Marco AL, Güven ZP, Stellacci F, Rossi G. Ion-bridges and lipids drive aggregation of same-charge nanoparticles on lipid membranes. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:6912-6921. [PMID: 35451442 PMCID: PMC9109710 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr08543c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The control of the aggregation of biomedical nanoparticles (NP) in physiological conditions is crucial as clustering may change completely the way they interact with the biological environment. Here we show that Au nanoparticles, functionalized by an anionic, amphiphilic shell, spontaneously aggregate in fluid zwitterionic lipid bilayers. We use molecular dynamics and enhanced sampling techniques to disentangle the short-range and long-range driving forces of aggregation. At short inter-particle distances, ion-mediated, charge-charge interactions (ion bridging) stabilize the formation of large NP aggregates, as confirmed by cryo-electron microscopy. Lipid depletion and membrane curvature are the main membrane deformations driving long-range NP-NP attraction. Ion bridging, lipid depletion, and membrane curvature stem from the configurational flexibility of the nanoparticle shell. Our simulations show, more in general, that the aggregation of same-charge membrane inclusions can be expected as a result of intrinsically nanoscale effects taking place at the NP-NP and NP-bilayer soft interfaces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Lavagna
- Physics Department, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy. rossig.@fisica.unige.it
| | - Davide Bochicchio
- Physics Department, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy. rossig.@fisica.unige.it
| | - Anna L De Marco
- Physics Department, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy. rossig.@fisica.unige.it
| | - Zekiye P Güven
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Stellacci
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Bioengineering Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Rossi
- Physics Department, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy. rossig.@fisica.unige.it
| |
Collapse
|