Issue 34, 2020

Phospholipid-mimicking cell-penetrating polymers: principles and applications

Abstract

Understanding the interactions of eukaryotic cellular membranes with nanomaterials is required to construct efficient and safe nanomedicines and molecular bioengineering. Intracellular uptake of nanocarriers by active endocytosis limits the intracellular distribution to the endosomal compartment, impairing the intended biological actions of the cargo molecules. Nonendocytic intracellular migration is another route for nanomaterials with cationic or amphiphilic properties to evade the barrier function of the lipid bilayer plasma membranes. Direct transport of nanomaterials into cells is efficient, but this may cause cytotoxic or biocidal effects by temporarily disrupting the biological membrane barrier. We have recently discovered that nonendocytic internalization of synthetic amphipathic polymer-based nanoaggregates that mimic the structure of natural phospholipids can occur without inducing cytotoxicity. Analysis using a proton leakage assay indicated that the polymer enters cells by amphiphilicity-induced membrane fusion rather than by transmembrane pore formation. These noncytotoxic cell-penetrating polymers may find applications in drug delivery systems, gene transfection, cell therapies, and biomolecular engineering.

Graphical abstract: Phospholipid-mimicking cell-penetrating polymers: principles and applications

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
18 jun 2020
Accepted
21 jul 2020
First published
21 jul 2020

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2020,8, 7633-7641

Phospholipid-mimicking cell-penetrating polymers: principles and applications

T. Goda, Y. Miyahara and K. Ishihara, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2020, 8, 7633 DOI: 10.1039/D0TB01520B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements