Interaction of tunable lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery with model membranes of different fluidity and pH

On the basis of the results obtained from the previous proposal (experiment#2220789) we would like to extend the study of the interactions between lipid nanoparticles (cationic and pH sensitive cubosomes) and model membranes with different fluidity and pH. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying the cellular uptake of these ordered lipid nanoparticles is fundamental since provide important hints for fine-tuning drug delivery systems. If on the one hand the membrane fluidity may influence the cellular uptake of nanoparticles on the other the low pH values, such those of the cancer cellular environment, may influence nanoparticles mesophases and hence the particular kind interacticions. Therefore, here we propose to study cationic cubosomes with model membranes in the presence and absence of cholesterol (different fluidity) and pH sensitive cubosomes with the same model membranes but with different pH.