Nanoparticle-lipid interaction: Job scattering plots to differentiate vesicle aggregation from supported lipid bilayer formation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method using Job scattering plots to distinguish between different nanoparticle-lipid structures, aiding in understanding nanoparticle interactions with cell membranes.

Contribution

It provides a novel analytical approach using continuous variation and Job scattering plots to differentiate vesicle aggregation from supported lipid bilayer formation.

Findings

Electrostatics influences nanoparticle-lipid interactions.

Supported lipid bilayers are not solely formed by electrostatic attraction.

The method effectively distinguishes different nanoparticle-lipid structures.

Abstract

The impact of nanomaterials on lung fluids or on the plasma membrane of living cells has prompted researchers to examine the interactions between nanoparticles and lipid vesicles. Recent studies have shown that nanoparticle-lipid interaction leads to a broad range of structures including supported lipid bilayers (SLB), particles adsorbed at the surface or internalized inside vesicles, and mixed aggregates. Today, there is a need to have simple protocols that can readily assess the nature of structures obtained from particles and vesicles. Here we apply the method of continuous variation for measuring Job scattering plots and provide analytical expressions for the scattering intensity in various scenarios. The result that emerges from the comparison between modeling and experimental measurements is that electrostatics plays a key role in the association, but it is not sufficient to induce the formation of supported lipid bilayers.