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Published online: 4 August 2010 | doi:10.1038/nchina.2010.93

Biophysics: Penetration testing

Felix Cheung

Introduction

© (2010) Nature Nanotechnology

Nanoparticles have a plethora of diverse applications ranging from drug delivery to imaging. However, the factors that determine how a nanoparticle penetrates a cell membrane are not well understood. Yuqiang Ma and Kai Yang at Nanjing University¹ have now used computer simulations to shed light on this question.

The researchers used dissipative particle dynamics — a simulation tool for studying the dynamic behaviour of complex fluids — to study how a nanoparticle enters a cell membrane. They found that the nanoparticle's shape and orientation dictate the dynamics of penetration.

For example, an ellipsoidal nanoparticle entering 'head first' penetrates the membrane without changing its orientation, whereas an ellipsoidal nanoparticle entering at an angle or 'side first' tends to rotate on entry. A small nanoparticle causes little damage as it penetrates the membrane, whereas a large nanoparticle may do more harm.

Computer simulations also showed that the ideal nanoparticle for drug delivery might take the shape of a 'push pin'. The particle can inject and remove itself from the membrane (see image) like an automated intravenous needle, providing an efficient means of drug delivery.

Furthermore, the researchers found that volume has little influence on the penetration dynamics. These findings will give scientists useful geometric guidelines when designing new drug carriers.

The authors of this work are from:
National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

Reference

1. Yang, K. & Ma, Y. Q. Computer simulation of the translocation of nanoparticles with different shapes across a lipid bilayer. Nature Nanotechnol. doi:10.1038/nnano.2010.141 (2010). | Article | OpenURL