We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Entry of Microparticles into Giant Lipid Vesicles by Optical Tweezers
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used optical tweezers to study how microparticles cross lipid membrane barriers in giant vesicles, a model for cell membranes. Understanding how particles at the microscale penetrate biological membranes is directly relevant to how microplastics may enter cells and tissues in living organisms.
Entry of micro- or nano-sized objects into cells or vesicles made of lipid membranes occur in many processes such as entry of viruses in host cells, microplastics pollution, drug delivery or biomedical imaging. Here, we investigated the microparticle crossing of lipid membranes in giant unilamellar vesicles in the absence of strong binding interactions (e.g. streptavidin-biotin binding). In these conditions, we observed that organic and inorganic particles can always penetrate inside the vesicles provided that an external picoNewton force is applied and for relatively low membrane tensions. In the limit of a vanishing adhesion, we pointed out the role of the membrane area reservoir and show that a force minimum exists when the particle size is comparable to the bendocapillary length.
More Papers Like This
Entry of microparticles into giant lipid vesicles by optical tweezers
AI summary Read the abstract
Using optical tweezers to apply precise forces, this study showed that microparticles can be pushed through lipid membrane vesicles — a model for cell membranes — when external mechanical force is applied and membrane tension is low. The findings provide mechanistic insight into how microplastics might physically cross cell membranes and enter cells, a key step in understanding potential cellular toxicity.
Effects of Nanoplastics on Lipid Membranes and Vice Versa: Insights from All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to study how polyethylene nanoplastics interact with cell membrane models. They found that the mechanical properties of the lipid membrane, rather than the nanoplastic structure, primarily determine whether particles can penetrate cells. The study suggests that more flexible biological membranes may be more susceptible to nanoplastic penetration, providing insight into how these particles could enter living cells.
Molecular Insights into Nanoplastic Incorporation in Lipid Bilayers: Theory, Simulation and Experiment
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists used computer simulations and lab experiments to study how tiny plastic fragments (nanoplastics) get into our cells by slipping into the fatty membranes that surround them. They found that small plastic chains can easily wedge into these membranes, especially if bits of plastic "stick out" from larger nanoparticles like tiny anchors—suggesting this may be a key first step in how plastic pollution actually invades our cells and tissues. This matters because as microplastics and nanoplastics become more common in our environment, understanding exactly how they breach our cells could help scientists figure out what health risks they might pose.
Effects of polyethylene microplastics on cell membranes: A combined study of experiments and molecular dynamics simulations
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers combined laboratory experiments with molecular dynamics simulations to study how polyethylene microplastics interact with cell membranes. They found that nanoscale plastic particles can penetrate and disrupt cell membrane structure, causing leakage and potentially leading to cell damage. The study provides a detailed molecular-level understanding of one of the fundamental ways microplastics may harm living cells.
Dynamics behavior of PE and PET oligomers in lipid bilayer simulations
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used computer simulations to study how tiny plastic fragments from PET and polyethylene enter cell membranes, finding that small plastic molecules pass through with little resistance and can concentrate inside membranes — suggesting passive entry into cells is possible for nanoplastics just a few nanometers in size.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.