Role of nanoparticle surface functionality in the disruption of model cell membranes.

ABSTRACT: Lipid bilayers are biomembranes common to cellular life and constitute a continuous barrier between cells and their environment. Understanding the interaction of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) with lipid bilayers is an important step toward predicting subsequent biological effects. In this study, we assess the effect of varying the surface functionality and concentration of 10-nm-diameter gold (Au) and titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) ENMs on the disruption of negatively charged lipid bilayer vesicles (liposomes) using a dye-leakage assay. Our findings show that Au ENMs having both positive and negative surface charge induce leakage that reaches a steady state after several hours. Positively charged particles with identical surface functionality and different core compositions show similar leaka

SUBMITTER: Moghadam BY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3508167 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature