Drašler B, Drobne D, Novak S, Valant J, Boljte S, Otrin L, Rappolt M, Sartori B, Iglič A, Kralj-Iglič V, Šuštar V, Makovec D, Gyergyek S, Hočevar M, Godec M, Zupanc J
[ pdf ] [ site ] International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014

Background

The purpose of this work is to provide experimental evidence on the interactions of suspended nanoparticles with artificial or biological membranes and to assess the possibility of suspended nanoparticles interacting with the lipid component of biological membranes.

Methods

1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipid vesicles and human red blood cells were incubated in suspensions of magnetic bare cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) or citric acid (CA)-adsorbed CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles dispersed in phosphate-buffered saline and glucose solution. The stability of POPC giant unilamellar vesicles after incubation in the tested nanoparticle suspensions was assessed by phase-contrast light microscopy and analyzed with computer-aided imaging. Structural changes in the POPC multilamellar vesicles were assessed by small angle X-ray scattering, and the shape transformation of red blood cells after incubation in tested suspensions of nanoparticles was observed using scanning electron microscopy and sedimentation, agglutination, and hemolysis assays.

Results

Artificial lipid membranes were disturbed more by CA-adsorbed CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticle suspensions than by bare CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticle suspensions. CA-adsorbed CoFe₂O₄-CA nanoparticles caused more significant shape transformation in red blood cells than bare CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles.

Conclusion

Consistent with their smaller sized agglomerates, CA-adsorbed CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles demonstrate more pronounced effects on artificial and biological membranes. Larger agglomerates of nanoparticles were confirmed to be reactive against lipid membranes and thus not acceptable for use with red blood cells. This finding is significant with respect to the efficient and safe application of nanoparticles as medicinal agents.