Rational design of magnetoliposomes for enhanced interaction with bacterial membrane models

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Raquel Meneses (Author) FEP; Costa, P (Author) Other; Sousa, CT (Author) FCUP; Horta, M (Author) Other; Pereira-Leite, C (Author) Other; Seabra, CL (Author) Other; Lima, SAC (Author) Other; Salette Reis (Author) FFUP; Nunes, C (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Biomembranes

Vol. 1865

ISSN: 0005-2736

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00X-PC5

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.184115

Abstract (EN): There is a growing need for alternatives to target and treat bacterial infection. Thus, the present work aims to develop and optimize the production of PEGylated magnetoliposomes (MLPs@PEG), by encapsulating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) within fusogenic liposomes. A Box-Behnken design was applied to modulate size distribution variables, using lipid concentration, SPIONs amount and ultrasonication time as independent variables. As a result of the optimization, it was possible to obtain MLPs@PEG with a mean size of 182 nm, with polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.19, and SPIONs encapsulation efficiency (%EE) around 76%. Cytocompatibility assays showed that no toxicity was observed in fibroblasts, for iron concentrations up to 400 mu g/ml. Also, for safe lipid and iron concentrations, no hemolytic effect was detected. The fusogenicity of the nanosystems was first evaluated through lipid mixing assays, based on Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET), using liposomal membrane models, mimicking bacterial cytoplasmic membrane and eukaryotic plasma membrane. It was shown that the hybrid nanosystems preferentially interact with the bacterial membrane model. Confocal microscopy and fluorescence lifetime measurements, using giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), validated these results. Overall, the developed hybrid nanosystem may represent an efficient drug delivery system with improved targetability for bacterial membrane.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14