Interaction of lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles suitable for drug delivery with model membranes of different fluidity

Lipid-based lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticle dispersions, such as hexosomes and cubosomes, are biocompatible vehicles for drug delivery due to their ability to encapsulate lipophilic and hydrophilic molecules. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the cellular uptake of these highly ordered LCNPs is still unclear. Understanding the surface interaction of the hexagonal or cubic phase with lipid membranes could provide important hints for fine-tuning drug delivery. Among cell membrane properties, cholesterol-regulated fluidity could play an important role in the passive uptake of LCNPs. Here, we propose to study the interfacial interaction between hexosomes and cubosomes and model membrane of different fluidity by neutron reflectivity.

脂质基溶致液晶纳米颗粒分散体系，例如六角体（hexosomes）与立方体（cubosomes），凭借其可包封亲脂性与亲水性分子的特性，成为一类生物相容性优异的药物递送载体。然而，这类高度有序的脂质基溶致液晶纳米颗粒（Lipid-based lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles, LCNPs）的细胞摄取分子机制仍未阐明。探明其六方相或立方相与脂质膜的界面相互作用，可为药物递送系统的精准调控提供重要线索。在细胞膜的诸多特性中，胆固醇调控的膜流动性可能在LCNPs的被动摄取过程中发挥关键作用。本研究拟通过中子反射技术，探究六角体、立方体与不同流动性模型膜之间的界面相互作用。