Nanoscale structural and mechanical characterization of thin bicontinuous cubic phase lipid films
(2022) In Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 210.- Abstract
The mechanical response of lipid membranes to nanoscale deformations is of fundamental importance for understanding how these interfaces behave in multiple biological processes; in particular, the nanoscale mechanics of non-lamellar membranes represents a largely unexplored research field. Among these mesophases, inverse bicontinuous cubic phase QII membranes have been found to spontaneously occur in stressed or virally infected cells and to play a role in fundamental processes, such as cell fusion and food digestion. We herein report on the fabrication of thin ( ̴150 nm) supported QII cubic phase lipid films (SQIIFs) and on their characterization via multiple techniques including Small Angle X-Ray... (More)
The mechanical response of lipid membranes to nanoscale deformations is of fundamental importance for understanding how these interfaces behave in multiple biological processes; in particular, the nanoscale mechanics of non-lamellar membranes represents a largely unexplored research field. Among these mesophases, inverse bicontinuous cubic phase QII membranes have been found to spontaneously occur in stressed or virally infected cells and to play a role in fundamental processes, such as cell fusion and food digestion. We herein report on the fabrication of thin ( ̴150 nm) supported QII cubic phase lipid films (SQIIFs) and on their characterization via multiple techniques including Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS), Ellipsometry and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Moreover, we present the first nanomechanical characterization of a cubic phase lipid membrane, through AFM-based Force Spectroscopy (AFM-FS). Our analysis reveals that the mechanical response of these architectures is strictly related to their topology and structure. The observed properties are strikingly similar to those of macroscopic 3D printed cubic structures when subjected to compression tests in material science; suggesting that this behaviour depends on the 3D organisation, rather than on the length-scale of the architecture. We also show for the first time that AFM-FS can be used for characterizing the structure of non-lamellar mesophases, obtaining lattice parameters in agreement with SAXS data. In contrast to classical rheological studies, which can only probe bulk cubic phase solutions, our AFM-FS analysis allows probing the response of cubic membranes to deformations occurring at length and force scales similar to those found in biological interactions.
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- author
- Ridolfi, Andrea ; Humphreys, Ben LU ; Caselli, Lucrezia ; Montis, Costanza ; Nylander, Tommy LU ; Berti, Debora ; Brucale, Marco and Valle, Francesco
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-02-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Atomic force microscopy, Cubic phase, Mechanical properties, Non-lamellar membranes
- in
- Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
- volume
- 210
- article number
- 112231
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85119918867
- pmid:34838417
- ISSN
- 0927-7765
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.112231
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
- id
- 6035024b-a855-4f44-9882-d4d00eaf70ab
- date added to LUP
- 2022-01-25 12:50:53
- date last changed
- 2024-04-20 19:19:26
@article{6035024b-a855-4f44-9882-d4d00eaf70ab,
abstract = {{<p>The mechanical response of lipid membranes to nanoscale deformations is of fundamental importance for understanding how these interfaces behave in multiple biological processes; in particular, the nanoscale mechanics of non-lamellar membranes represents a largely unexplored research field. Among these mesophases, inverse bicontinuous cubic phase Q<sub>II</sub> membranes have been found to spontaneously occur in stressed or virally infected cells and to play a role in fundamental processes, such as cell fusion and food digestion. We herein report on the fabrication of thin ( ̴150 nm) supported Q<sub>II</sub> cubic phase lipid films (SQ<sub>II</sub>Fs) and on their characterization via multiple techniques including Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS), Ellipsometry and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Moreover, we present the first nanomechanical characterization of a cubic phase lipid membrane, through AFM-based Force Spectroscopy (AFM-FS). Our analysis reveals that the mechanical response of these architectures is strictly related to their topology and structure. The observed properties are strikingly similar to those of macroscopic 3D printed cubic structures when subjected to compression tests in material science; suggesting that this behaviour depends on the 3D organisation, rather than on the length-scale of the architecture. We also show for the first time that AFM-FS can be used for characterizing the structure of non-lamellar mesophases, obtaining lattice parameters in agreement with SAXS data. In contrast to classical rheological studies, which can only probe bulk cubic phase solutions, our AFM-FS analysis allows probing the response of cubic membranes to deformations occurring at length and force scales similar to those found in biological interactions.</p>}},
author = {{Ridolfi, Andrea and Humphreys, Ben and Caselli, Lucrezia and Montis, Costanza and Nylander, Tommy and Berti, Debora and Brucale, Marco and Valle, Francesco}},
issn = {{0927-7765}},
keywords = {{Atomic force microscopy; Cubic phase; Mechanical properties; Non-lamellar membranes}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{02}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces}},
title = {{Nanoscale structural and mechanical characterization of thin bicontinuous cubic phase lipid films}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.112231}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.112231}},
volume = {{210}},
year = {{2022}},
}