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DNA Hybridization‐Mediated Liposome Fusion at the Aqueous Liquid Crystal Interface
Author(s) -
Noonan Patrick S.,
Mohan Praveena,
Goodwin Andrew P.,
Schwartz Daniel K.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201303885
Subject(s) - liposome , bilayer , materials science , biophysics , oligonucleotide , lipid bilayer fusion , lipid bilayer , aptamer , fusion , liquid crystal , dna , nanotechnology , membrane , biology , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , optoelectronics , linguistics , philosophy
The prominence of receptor‐mediated bilayer fusion in cellular biology motivates development of biomimetic strategies for studying fusogenic mechanisms. An approach is reported here for monitoring receptor‐mediated fusion that exploits the unique physical and optical properties of liquid crystals (LC). PEG‐functionalized lipids are used to create an interfacial environment capable of inhibiting spontaneous liposome fusion with an aqueous/LC interface. Then, DNA hybridization between oligonucleotides within bulk phase liposomes and a PEG‐lipid monolayer at an aqueous/LC interface is exploited to induce receptor‐mediated liposome fusion. These hybridization events induce strain within the liposome bilayer, promote lipid mixing with the LC interface, and consequently create an interfacial environment favoring re‐orientation of the LC to a homeotropic (perpendicular) state. Furthermore, the bi‐functionality of aptamers is exploited to modulate DNA hybridization‐mediated liposome fusion by regulating the availability of the appropriate ligand (i.e., thrombin). Here, a LC‐based approach for monitoring receptor (i.e., DNA hybridization)‐mediated liposome fusion is demonstrated, liposome properties that dictate fusion dynamics are explored, and an example of how this approach may be used in a biosensing scheme is provided.