Publication details
Designing spheroidal nanoparticles to induce membrane fusion of liposomes
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| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | The efficient delivery of drugs into cells remains a great challenge. Liposome drug delivery often relies on endocytosis to enter the cell, which usually leads to lysosomal degradation, reducing their delivery efficacy. Recently, a novel delivery approach has emerged, utilizing nanoparticle-induced fusion between liposomes and cells, thus avoiding the endocytic pathway. However, the underlying mechanisms of nanoparticle-induced fusion and the ideal properties of such nanoparticles remain largely unknown. We used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the efficacy of spheroid nanoparticles with different size, prolateness, and ligand interaction strengths in enhancing fusion between vesicles. By systematically varying nanoparticle properties, we identified how each parameter affects the fusion process and the optimal parameter range that promotes fusion. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and optimization of fusogenic nanoparticles with potential biotechnological and biomedical applications. |
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