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Gonzalez Solveyra E, Perez Sirkin YA, Tagliazucchi M, Szleifer I. Orientational Pathways during Protein Translocation through Polymer-Modified Nanopores. ACS Nano 2024; 18:10427-10438. [PMID: 38556978 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Protein translocation through nanopores holds significant promise for applications in biotechnology, biomolecular analysis, and medicine. However, the interpretation of signals generated by the translocation of the protein remains challenging. In this way, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding on how macromolecules translocate through a nanopore and to identify what are the critical parameters that govern the process. In this study, we investigate the interplay between protein charge regulation, orientation, and nanopore surface modifications using a theoretical framework that allows us to explicitly take into account the acid-base reactions of the titrable amino acids in the proteins and in the polyelectrolytes grafted to the nanopore surface. Our goal is to thoroughly characterize the translocation process of different proteins (GFP, β-lactoglobulin, lysozyme, and RNase) through nanopores modified with weak polyacids. Our calculations show that the charge regulation mechanism exerts a profound effect on the translocation process. The pH-dependent interactions between proteins and charged polymers within the nanopore lead to diverse free energy landscapes with barriers, wells, and flat regions dictating translocation efficiency. Comparison of different proteins allows us to identify the significance of protein isoelectric point, size, and morphology in the translocation behavior. Taking advantage of these insights, we propose pH-responsive nanopores that can load proteins at one pH and release them at another, offering opportunities for controlled protein delivery, separation, and sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefania Gonzalez Solveyra
- Instituto de Nanosistemas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín-CONICET, San Martín, Buenos Aires B1650, Argentina
| | - Yamila A Perez Sirkin
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Inorgánica Analítica y Química Física y CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Química de los Materiales, Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE). Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mario Tagliazucchi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Inorgánica Analítica y Química Física y CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Química de los Materiales, Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE). Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Igal Szleifer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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Zaldivar G, Perez Sirkin YA, Debais G, Fiora M, Missoni LL, Gonzalez Solveyra E, Tagliazucchi M. Molecular Theory: A Tool for Predicting the Outcome of Self-Assembly of Polymers, Nanoparticles, Amphiphiles, and Other Soft Materials. ACS Omega 2022; 7:38109-38121. [PMID: 36340074 PMCID: PMC9631762 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c04785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The supramolecular organization of soft materials, such as colloids, polymers, and amphiphiles, results from a subtle balance of weak intermolecular interactions and entropic forces. This competition can drive the self-organization of soft materials at the nano-/mesoscale. Modeling soft-matter self-assembly requires, therefore, considering a complex interplay of forces at the relevant length scales without sacrificing the molecular details that define the chemical identity of the system. This mini-review focuses on the application of a tool known as molecular theory to study self-assembly in different types of soft materials. This tool is based on extremizing an approximate free energy functional of the system, and, therefore, it provides a direct, computationally affordable estimation of the stability of different self-assembled morphologies. Moreover, the molecular theory explicitly incorporates structural details of the chemical species in the system, accounts for their conformational degrees of freedom, and explicitly includes their chemical equilibria. This mini-review introduces the general ideas behind the theoretical formalism and discusses its advantages and limitations compared with other theoretical tools commonly used to study self-assembled soft materials. Recent application examples are discussed: the self-patterning of polyelectrolyte brushes on planar and curved surfaces, the formation of nanoparticle (NP) superlattices, and the self-organization of amphiphiles into micelles of different shapes. Finally, prospective methodological improvements and extensions (also relevant for related theoretical tools) are analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gervasio Zaldivar
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica Analítica y Química
Física, Ciudad Universitaria, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas
y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2 C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto
de Química de los Materiales, Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE).
Ciudad Universitaria, CONICET, Universidad
de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pabellón 2 C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yamila A. Perez Sirkin
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica Analítica y Química
Física, Ciudad Universitaria, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas
y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2 C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto
de Química de los Materiales, Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE).
Ciudad Universitaria, CONICET, Universidad
de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pabellón 2 C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriel Debais
- Instituto
de Química de los Materiales, Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE).
Ciudad Universitaria, CONICET, Universidad
de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pabellón 2 C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Fiora
- INTI-Micro
y Nanotecnologías, Instituto Nacional
de Tecnología Industrial (INTI), San Martín, Buenos Aires B1650WAB, Argentina
| | - Leandro L. Missoni
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica Analítica y Química
Física, Ciudad Universitaria, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas
y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2 C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto
de Química de los Materiales, Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE).
Ciudad Universitaria, CONICET, Universidad
de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pabellón 2 C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Estefania Gonzalez Solveyra
- Universidad
Nacional de San Martin, Instituto de Nanosistemas, UNSAM-CONICET, Av. 25 de Mayo 1021, 1650 San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mario Tagliazucchi
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica Analítica y Química
Física, Ciudad Universitaria, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas
y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2 C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto
de Química de los Materiales, Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE).
Ciudad Universitaria, CONICET, Universidad
de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pabellón 2 C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Abstract
Nanopores play a decisive role in different technologies from oil production, separation, and sensing to drug delivery or catalysis and energy conversion. In recent years, abilities to functionalize nanopores have advanced significantly. Thereby, nanopores functionalized with polyelectrolytes or responsive polymers show fascinating transport properties, such as gated or gradually controlled ionic permselectivity. Nonetheless, understanding the influence of external parameters such as ion type or concentration on nanopore performance, and thus on the mentioned applications, remains a challenge but is crucial for applications. In this work, the effect of different counterions on the wetting and ionic transport in poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium chloride)-functionalized silica mesopores (pore diameter <10 nm) was experimentally and theoretically investigated. Static contact angles covered a range from 45 to almost 90° by exclusively changing the counterion. Ionic pore accessibility was also strongly dependent on the counterion present and was found to gradually change from accessible pores up to complete, pH-independent ion exclusion. On the basis of molecular theory calculations, these experimental observations were rationalized on the basis of ion binding between the [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride monomers and the counterions. In addition, the theoretical framework provided a nanoscopic view into the molecular organization inside the pores, showing a strong dependence of ion concentration and ion distribution profiles along the pore radius in dependence of the present ions. The obtained insights on the role of counterion type and ion binding in nanopores are expected to have direct impact on the above-mentioned applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Silies
- Ernst-Berl Institute für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Estefania Gonzalez Solveyra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Igal Szleifer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Annette Andrieu-Brunsen
- Ernst-Berl Institute für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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Nap RJ, Gonzalez Solveyra E, Szleifer I. The interplay of nanointerface curvature and calcium binding in weak polyelectrolyte-coated nanoparticles. Biomater Sci 2018; 6:1048-1058. [PMID: 29652053 PMCID: PMC6309315 DOI: 10.1039/c8bm00135a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
When engineering nanomaterials for application in biological systems, it is important to understand how multivalent ions, such as calcium, affect the structural and chemical properties of polymer-modified nanoconstructs. In this work, a recently developed molecular theory was employed to study the effect of surface curvature on the calcium-induced collapse of end-tethered weak polyelectrolytes. In particular, we focused on cylindrical and spherical nanoparticles coated with poly(acrylic acid) in the presence of different amounts of Ca2+ ions. We describe the structural changes that grafted polyelectrolytes undergo as a function of calcium concentration, surface curvature, and morphology. The polymer layers collapse in aqueous solutions that contain sufficient amounts of Ca2+ ions. This collapse, due to the formation of calcium bridges, is not only controlled by the calcium ion concentration but also strongly influenced by the curvature of the tethering surface. The transition from a swollen to a collapsed layer as a function of calcium concentration broadens and shifts to lower amounts of calcium ions as a function of the radius of cylindrical and spherical nanoparticles. The results show how the interplay between calcium binding and surface curvature governs the structural and functional properties of the polymer molecules. This would directly impact the fate of weak polyelectrolyte-coated nanoparticles in biological environments, in which calcium levels are tightly regulated. Understanding such interplay would also contribute to the rational design and optimization of smart interfaces with applications in, e.g., salt-sensitive and ion-responsive materials and devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rikkert J Nap
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, and Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
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Solveyra EG, Tagliazucchi M, Szleifer I. Anisotropic surface functionalization of Au nanorods driven by molecular architecture and curvature effects. Faraday Discuss 2016; 191:351-372. [PMID: 27419660 PMCID: PMC6314812 DOI: 10.1039/c6fd00020g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
This work suggests a novel strategy to coat the caps and body of Au-nanorods (Au-NRs) with end-grafted polymer layers of different compositions by taking advantage of the different curvature of these two regions. A molecular theory was used to theoretically investigate the effect of local curvature and molecular architecture (intramolecular connectivity of the monomers) on the adsorption of polymer mixtures on cylindrical (Au-NR body) and spherical (Au-NR caps) surfaces. The adsorption process was systematically studied as a function of the backbone length, number and position of branches, quality of the solvent and total number of monomers of the polymer molecules in the mixture. The balance between repulsive forces and polymer-surface and polymer-polymer attractions governs the amount and composition of the adsorbed layer. This balance is in turn modulated by the architecture of the polymers, the curvature of the surface and the competition between the different polymers in the mixture for the available area. As a result, the equilibrium composition of the polymer layer on spheres and cylinders of the same radius differs, and in turn departs from that of the bulk solution. Curvature plays a major role: the available volume at a given distance from the surface is larger for spherical surfaces than for cylindrical ones, therefore the surface density of the bulkier (more branched) polymer in the mixture is larger on the Au-NR caps than on the Au-NR body. These results suggest that the combination of curvature at the nanoscale and tailored molecular architecture can confer anisotropic nanoparticles with spatially enriched domains and, therefore, lead to nanoconstructs with directional chemical interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefania Gonzalez Solveyra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
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Striolo A, Sicard F, Liz-Marzán L, Murphy C, Roig A, Mueller A, Reguera J, Zhou Y, Brust M, Scarabelli L, Tadiello L, Thill A, Yarovsky I, Mayer M, López-Quintela MA, Kuttner C, Gonzalez Solveyra E, Wolf H, Kay E, Pasquato L, Buceta D, Portehault D, Mattoussi H, González G, Faller R, French D, Abécassis B, Stevens M, Xia Y, Jones R, Grzelczak M, Penna M, Drummond C. Applications: general discussion. Faraday Discuss 2016; 191:565-595. [DOI: 10.1039/c6fd90051h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Castelli A, Striolo A, Roig A, Murphy C, Reguera J, Liz-Marzán L, Mueller A, Critchley K, Zhou Y, Brust M, Thill A, Scarabelli L, Tadiello L, König TAF, Reiser B, López-Quintela MA, Buzza M, Deák A, Kuttner C, Gonzalez Solveyra E, Pasquato L, Portehault D, Mattoussi H, Kotov NA, Kumacheva E, Heatley K, Bergueiro J, González G, Tong W, Tahir MN, Abécassis B, Rojas-Carrillo O, Xia Y, Mayer M, Peddis D. Anisotropic nanoparticles: general discussion. Faraday Discuss 2016; 191:229-254. [DOI: 10.1039/c6fd90049f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Striolo A, Kim J, Murphy C, Liz-Marzán L, Lahann J, Reguera J, Zhou Y, Brust M, Thill A, Scarabelli L, König TAF, Buzza M, Kuttner C, Gonzalez Solveyra E, Wolf H, Vermant J, Pauly M, Harvie A, Pasquato L, Stocco A, Mattoussi H, Kumacheva E, Heatley K, Hanske C, Faller R, French D, Honciuc A, Binks B, Sicard F. Particles at interfaces: general discussion. Faraday Discuss 2016; 191:407-434. [DOI: 10.1039/c6fd90050j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Gonzalez Solveyra E, Szleifer I. What is the role of curvature on the properties of nanomaterials for biomedical applications? Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2015; 8:334-54. [PMID: 26310432 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The use of nanomaterials for drug delivery and theranostics applications is a promising paradigm in nanomedicine, as it brings together the best features of nanotechnolgy, molecular biology, and medicine. To fully exploit the synergistic potential of such interdisciplinary strategy, a comprehensive description of the interactions at the interface between nanomaterials and biological systems is not only crucial, but also mandatory. Routine strategies to engineer nanomaterial-based drugs comprise modifying their surface with biocompatible and targeting ligands, in many cases resorting to modular approaches that assume additive behavior. However, emergent behavior can be observed when combining confinement and curvature. The final properties of functionalized nanomaterials become dependent not only on the properties of their constituents but also on the geometry of the nano-bio interface, and on the local molecular environment. Modularity no longer holds, and the coupling between interactions, chemical equilibrium, and molecular organization has to be directly addressed in order to design smart nanomaterials with controlled spatial functionalization envisioning optimized biomedical applications. Nanoparticle's curvature becomes an integral part of the design strategy, enabling to control and engineer the chemical and surface properties with molecular precision. Understanding how nanoparticle size, morphology, and surface chemistry are interrelated will put us one step closer to engineering nanobiomaterials capable of mimicking biological structures and their behaviors, paving the way into applications and the possibility to elucidate the use of curvature by biological systems. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2016, 8:334-354. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1365 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefania Gonzalez Solveyra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Igal Szleifer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
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Bar-Hen A, Bounioux C, Yerushalmi-Rozen R, Gonzalez Solveyra E, Szleifer I. The role of steric interactions in dispersion of carbon nanotubes by poly(3-alkyl thiophenes) in organic solvents. J Colloid Interface Sci 2015; 452:62-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2015.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2015] [Revised: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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