Advances in Studies of Nanoparticle–Biomembrane Interactions

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) are widely applied in nanomedicine and diagnostics based on the interactions between NPs and the basic barrier (biomembrane). Understanding the underlying mechanism of these interactions is important for enhancing their beneficial effects and avoiding potential nanotoxicity. Experimental, mathematical and numerical modeling techniques are involved in this field. This article reviews the state-of-the-art techniques in studies of NP–biomembrane interactions with a focus on each technology’s advantages and disadvantages. The aim is to better understand the mechanism of NP–biomembrane interactions and provide significant guidance for various fields, such as nanomedicine and diagnosis.

Keywords::

• biomembrane
• interactions
• nanoparticles

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51322604, 11372243, 21105079 and 81301040), the National 111 Project of China (B06024), the Major International Joint Research Program of China (11120101002), the Key (Key grant) Project of Chinese Ministry of Education (313045), the South Wisdom Valley Innovative Research Team Program, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of China (2013DFG02930) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities. F Xu was also partially supported by the China Young 1000-Talent Program and the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-12-0437). F Li also acknowledges support from the Science and Technology Research and Development Program by the Shaanxi Province of China (grant. no. 2012K08-18) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant no. 2011-0109-08142016 and 2011-010-08143038). BY Sha was also supported by the Program for Youth Science and Technology Star of Shaanxi Province (grant no. 2014KJXX-76). L Wang was supported by the Key Program for International S&T Cooperation Projects of Shaanxi (grant no. 2014KW12-01) and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project (grant no. 2013M532054). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51322604, 11372243, 21105079 and 81301040), the National 111 Project of China (B06024), the Major International Joint Research Program of China (11120101002), the Key (Key grant) Project of Chinese Ministry of Education (313045), the South Wisdom Valley Innovative Research Team Program, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of China (2013DFG02930) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities. F Xu was also partially supported by the China Young 1000-Talent Program and the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-12-0437). F Li also acknowledges support from the Science and Technology Research and Development Program by the Shaanxi Province of China (grant. no. 2012K08-18) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant no. 2011-0109-08142016 and 2011-010-08143038). BY Sha was also supported by the Program for Youth Science and Technology Star of Shaanxi Province (grant no. 2014KJXX-76). L Wang was supported by the Key Program for International S&T Cooperation Projects of Shaanxi (grant no. 2014KW12-01) and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project (grant no. 2013M532054). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.