Structure and dynamics of lipid membranes interacting with antivirulence end-phosphorylated polyethylene glycol block copolymers

Soft Matter. 2020 Jan 28;16(4):983-989. doi: 10.1039/c9sm01642b. Epub 2019 Dec 18.

Abstract

The structure and dynamics of lipid membranes in the presence of extracellular macromolecules are critical for cell membrane functions and many pharmaceutical applications. The pathogen virulence-suppressing end-phosphorylated polyethylene glycol (PEG) triblock copolymer (Pi-ABAPEG) markedly changes the interactions with lipid vesicle membranes and prevents PEG-induced vesicle phase separation in contrast to the unphosphorylated copolymer (ABAPEG). Pi-ABAPEG weakly absorbs on the surface of lipid vesicle membranes and slightly changes the structure of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) unilamellar vesicles at 37 °C, as evidenced by small angle neutron scattering. X-ray reflectivity measurements confirm the weak adsorption of Pi-ABAPEG on DMPC monolayer, resulting in a more compact DMPC monolayer structure. Neutron spin-echo results show that the adsorption of Pi-ABAPEG on DMPC vesicle membranes increases the membrane bending modulus κ.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Membrane / chemistry*
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine / chemistry
  • Glycerylphosphorylcholine / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism
  • Membrane Lipids / chemistry*
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / chemistry
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / metabolism

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Polymers
  • Unilamellar Liposomes
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Glycerylphosphorylcholine
  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine