Polymer-based nanoparticles have an increasing presence in research due to their attractive properties, such as flexible surface functionality design and the ability to scale up production. Poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) nanoparticles of size below 50 nm are very unique in terms of their high charge density and internal onion-like morphology. The interaction between PIL nanoparticles and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) of various surface charge densities is investigated. GUVs represent a convenient model system as they mimic the size and curvature of plasma membranes, while simultaneously offering direct visualization of the membrane response under the microscope. Incubating PIL nanoparticles with GUVs results in poration of the lipid membrane in a concentration- and charge-dependent manner. A critical poration concentration of PILs is located and the interactions are found to be analogous to those of antimicrobial peptides. Microbial mimetic membranes are already affected at submicromolar PIL concentrations where contrast loss is observed due to sugar exchange across the membrane, while at high concentrations the collapse of vesicles is observed. Finally, a confocal microscopy-based approach assessing the particle permeation through the membrane is reported and a mechanism based on bilayer frustration and pore stabilization via particle integration in the membrane is proposed.
Keywords: antifungal; antimicrobial activity; giant vesicles; membrane permeabilization; microfluidics; pores.