Artificial Cell Membrane-Mimicking Nanostructure Facilitates Efficient Gene Delivery through Fusogenic Interaction with the Plasma Membrane of Living Cells

Small ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (21) ◽  
pp. 2991-2997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sejin Son ◽  
Gahee Kim ◽  
Kaushik Singha ◽  
Samdae Park ◽  
Moonhor Ree ◽  
...  
Micromachines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koki Kamiya

Giant lipid vesicles or liposomes are primarily composed of phospholipids and form a lipid bilayer structurally similar to that of the cell membrane. These vesicles, like living cells, are 5–100 μm in diameter and can be easily observed using an optical microscope. As their biophysical and biochemical properties are similar to those of the cell membrane, they serve as model cell membranes for the investigation of the biophysical or biochemical properties of the lipid bilayer, as well as its dynamics and structure. Investigation of membrane protein functions and enzyme reactions has revealed the presence of soluble or membrane proteins integrated in the giant lipid vesicles. Recent developments in microfluidic technologies and synthetic biology have enabled the development of well-defined artificial cell models with complex reactions based on the giant lipid vesicles. In this review, using microfluidics, the formations of giant lipid vesicles with asymmetric lipid membranes or complex structures have been described. Subsequently, the roles of these biomaterials in the creation of artificial cell models including nanopores, ion channels, and other membrane and soluble proteins have been discussed. Finally, the complex biological functions of giant lipid vesicles reconstituted with various types of biomolecules has been communicated. These complex artificial cell models contribute to the production of minimal cells or protocells for generating valuable or rare biomolecules and communicating between living cells and artificial cell models.


Author(s):  
Yih-Tai Chen ◽  
Ursula Euteneuer ◽  
Ken B. Johnson ◽  
Michael P. Koonce ◽  
Manfred Schliwa

The application of video techniques to light microscopy and the development of motility assays in reactivated or reconstituted model systems rapidly advanced our understanding of the mechanism of organelle transport and microtubule dynamics in living cells. Two microtubule-based motors have been identified that are good candidates for motors that drive organelle transport: kinesin, a plus end-directed motor, and cytoplasmic dynein, which is minus end-directed. However, the evidence that they do in fact function as organelle motors is still indirect.We are studying microtubule-dependent transport and dynamics in the giant amoeba, Reticulomyxa. This cell extends filamentous strands backed by an extensive array of microtubules along which organelles move bidirectionally at up to 20 μm/sec (Fig. 1). Following removal of the plasma membrane with a mild detergent, organelle transport can be reactivated by the addition of ATP (1). The physiological, pharmacological and biochemical characteristics show the motor to be a cytoplasmic form of dynein (2).


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (04) ◽  
Author(s):  
JESHIMA KHAN YASIN ◽  
ANIL KUMAR SINGH

Cytoplasmic streaming is one among the vital activities of the living cells. In plants cytolplasmic streaming could clearly be seen in hypocotyls of growing seedlings. To observe cytoplsmic streaming and its correlated intracellular trafficking an investigation was conducted in legumes in comparison with GFP-AtRab75 and 35S::GFP:δTIP tonoplast fusion protein expressing arabidopsis lines. These seedlings were observed under confocal microscopy with different buffer incubation treatments and under different stress conditions. GFP expressing 35S::GFP:δTIP tonoplast lines were looking similar to the control lines and differ under stress conditions. Movement of cytoplasmic invaginations within the tonoplast and cytoplasmic sub vesicle or bulb budding during cytoplasmic streaming was observed in hypocotyls of At-GFP tonoplast plants. We found the cytoplasmic bulbs/ vesicles or sub vesicle formation from the plasma membrane. The streaming speed also depends on the incubation medium in which the specimen was incubated, indicating that the external stimuli as well as internal stimuli can alter the speed of streaming


Nanoscale ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 10189-10195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Zhao ◽  
Dongyang Tang ◽  
Ying Wu ◽  
Shaoqing Chen ◽  
Cheng Wang

The artifical cell system for the gene therapy of cancer might be a promising approach for the reversal of neoplastic progress of cancer cells.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1254
Author(s):  
Lingjie Ke ◽  
Zhiguo Li ◽  
Xiaoshan Fan ◽  
Xian Jun Loh ◽  
Hongwei Cheng ◽  
...  

Drug resistance always reduces the efficacy of chemotherapy, and the classical mechanisms of drug resistance include drug pump efflux and anti-apoptosis mediators-mediated non-pump resistance. In addition, the amphiphilic polymeric micelles with good biocompatibility and high stability have been proven to deliver the drug molecules inside the cavity into the cell membrane regardless of the efflux of the cell membrane pump. We designed a cyclodextrin (CD)-based polymeric complex to deliver chemotherapeutic doxorubicin (DOX) and Nur77ΔDBD gene for combating pumps and non-pump resistance simultaneously. The natural cavity structure of the polymeric complex, which was comprised with β-cyclodextrin-graft-(poly(ε-caprolactone)-adamantly (β-CD-PCL-AD) and β-cyclodextrin-graft-(poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (β-CD-PCL-PDMAEMA), can achieve the efficient drug loading and delivery to overcome pump drug resistance. The excellent Nur77ΔDBD gene delivery can reverse Bcl-2 from the tumor protector to killer for inhibiting non-pump resistance. The presence of terminal adamantyl (AD) could insert into the cavity of β-CD-PCL-PDMAEMA via host-guest interaction, and the releasing rate of polymeric inclusion complex was higher than that of the individual β-CD-PCL-PDMAEMA. The polymeric inclusion complex can efficiently deliver the Nur77ΔDBD gene than polyethylenimine (PEI-25k), which is a golden standard for nonviral vector gene delivery. The higher transfection efficacy, rapid DOX cellular uptake, and significant synergetic tumor cell viability inhibition were achieved in a pump and non-pump drug resistance cell model. The combined strategy with dual drug resistance mechanisms holds great potential to combat drug-resistant cancer.


Author(s):  
Guoxin Tan ◽  
Jiayang Li ◽  
Dandan Liu ◽  
Hao Pan ◽  
Renfang Zhu ◽  
...  

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 935
Author(s):  
Manas R. Biswal ◽  
Sofia Bhatia

Ocular gene therapy offers significant potential for preventing retinal dystrophy in patients with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD). Adeno-associated virus (AAV) based gene transfer is the most common and successful gene delivery approach to the eye. These days, many studies are using non-viral nanoparticles (NPs) as an alternative therapeutic option because of their unique properties and biocompatibility. Here, we discuss the potential of carbon dots (CDs), a new type of nanocarrier for gene delivery to the retinal cells. The unique physicochemical properties of CDs (such as optical, electronic, and catalytic) make them suitable for biosensing, imaging, drug, and gene delivery applications. Efficient gene delivery to the retinal cells using CDs depends on various factors, such as photoluminescence, quantum yield, biocompatibility, size, and shape. In this review, we focused on different approaches used to synthesize CDs, classify CDs, various pathways for the intake of gene-loaded carbon nanoparticles inside the cell, and multiple studies that worked on transferring nucleic acid in the eye using CDs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Penedo ◽  
Tetsuya Shirokawa ◽  
Mohammad Shahidul Alam ◽  
Keisuke Miyazawa ◽  
Takehiko Ichikawa ◽  
...  

AbstractOver the last decade, nanoneedle-based systems have demonstrated to be extremely useful in cell biology. They can be used as nanotools for drug delivery, biosensing or biomolecular recognition inside cells; or they can be employed to select and sort in parallel a large number of living cells. When using these nanoprobes, the most important requirement is to minimize the cell damage, reducing the forces and indentation lengths needed to penetrate the cell membrane. This is normally achieved by reducing the diameter of the nanoneedles. However, several studies have shown that nanoneedles with a flat tip display lower penetration forces and indentation lengths. In this work, we have tested different nanoneedle shapes and diameters to reduce the force and the indentation length needed to penetrate the cell membrane, demonstrating that ultra-thin and sharp nanoprobes can further reduce them, consequently minimizing the cell damage.


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