Department of Chemical Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka 599-8531, Japan.
Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2023 Dec 6;25(47):32356-32363. doi: 10.1039/d3cp03281g.
Because the cell membrane is the main barrier of intracellular delivery, it is important to facilitate and control the translocation of extracellular compounds across it. Our earlier molecular dynamics simulations suggested that charged nanoparticles under a weak external electric field can enhance the permeability of the cell membrane without disrupting it. However, this membrane permeabilization approach has not been tested experimentally. This study investigated the membrane crossing of a model compound (dextran with a of 3000-5000) using charged nanoparticles and a weak external electric field. A model bilayer lipid membrane was prepared by using a droplet contact method. The permeability of the membrane was evaluated using the electrophysiological technique. Even when the applied electric field was below the critical strength for membrane breakdown, dextran was able to cross the membrane without causing membrane breakdown. These results indicate that adding nanomaterials under a weak electric field may enhance the translocation of delivery compounds across the cell membrane with less damage, suggesting a new strategy for intracellular delivery systems.
由于细胞膜是细胞内输送的主要屏障，因此促进和控制细胞外化合物穿过细胞膜的转移非常重要。我们之前的分子动力学模拟表明，在弱外电场下带电荷的纳米粒子可以增强细胞膜的通透性而不会破坏它。然而，这种细胞膜通透性的方法尚未经过实验验证。本研究使用带电荷的纳米粒子和弱外电场研究了模型化合物（分子量为 3000-5000 的葡聚糖）的膜穿透情况。通过液滴接触法制备模型双层脂质膜。使用电生理学技术评估膜的通透性。即使施加的电场低于导致膜破裂的临界强度，葡聚糖也能够穿过膜而不会导致膜破裂。这些结果表明，在外电场下添加纳米材料可能会增强递药化合物穿过细胞膜的转移，而对细胞膜的损伤更小，这为细胞内递药系统提供了一种新的策略。
