Effects of magnetic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles on biological and artificial lipid membranes

B Drašler, D Drobne, S Novak, J Valant, S Boljte, L Otrin, M Rappolt, Barbara Sartori, A Iglič, V Kralj-Iglič, V Šuštar, D Makovec, S Gyergyek, M Hočevar, M Godec, J Zupanc

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

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.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1559-1581
JournalInternational Journal of Nanomedicine
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Fields of Expertise

  • Advanced Materials Science

Treatment code (Nähere Zuordnung)

  • Basic - Fundamental (Grundlagenforschung)
  • Experimental

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of magnetic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles on biological and artificial lipid membranes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this