Transmembrane transport of multicomponent liposome-nanoparticles into giant vesicles

Abstract

With the emergence and rapid development of nanotechnology, the nanoparticles hybridized with multicomponent lipids are more and more used in gene delivery. These vectors interact with the cell membrane before entering into the cell. Therefore, the nature of this interaction is important in investigating multicomponent liposome-nanoparticle (MLP) transport across the cell membrane. In this paper the transport of MLPs across the membranes of giant vesicles (GVs) in solvents is studied by using the self-consistent field theory (SCFT). Based on the analysis of the MLP permeating the GV membranes, a simple transport model is proposed. The effects of the difference in membrane morphology and the size of the nanoparticle on the endocytosis are discussed systematically. The role of energy barriers in quasi-equilibrium is also examined. The results indicate that the interaction between MLP and GV is a spontaneous process and the energy barrier needs overcoming to form metastable intermediates. The results provide theoretical reference for better understanding the transmembrane transport process of nanoparticles, and guidance for relevant experimental studies as well.