Magnetically driven lipid vesicles for directed motion and light-triggered cargo release

Abstract

Targeted drug delivery and precision medicine offer great promise for enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. Among various platforms, lipid-based delivery systems have attracted significant interest due to their intrinsic biocompatibility and their ability to transport hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and amphiphilic compounds. With recent advances in bottom-up synthetic biology and microfluidics, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) have emerged as a versatile candidate for drug delivery. However, achieving controlled and directed motion of GUVs remains a critical challenge. In this study, we conduct a systematic experimental investigation of GUVs encapsulating magnetic particles (magGUVs) subjected to inhomogeneous magnetic fields. We develop a lattice Boltzmann simulation framework to model the propulsion of GUVs driven by an internally encapsulated particle under a constant force, and compare the simulated speeds with experimental measurements. Furthermore, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept integrating directed motion of magGUVs with controlled, localized release of encapsulated contents via light-induced asymmetric oxidation. This work provides a foundation for the design of lipid-based drug delivery vehicles that combine navigational control with on-demand release capabilities, advancing targeted therapeutic strategies in precision medicine.