Chapter 16
Interactions Between Carbon-Based
Nanostructures and Biomembranes:
Computer Simulations Study
Przemysław Raczy ´
nski, Mateusz Pabiszczak, and Zygmunt Gburski
16.1 Introduction
The cell membranes were created by nature as efficient protective barriers. An
important functional part of membrane is the phospholipid bilayer, the structure
that protects an interior of the cell from the external factors like uncontrolled
molecules transport from and into the cell [1–3]. Taking into account expansion
of novel fields like nano-medicine, employing nanostructures to deliver cargo to
cells via phospholipid bilayer is of considerable interests. Carbon nanotubes are
recognized as a potential noninvasive vehicle because experimental and theoretical
studies suggest that they are able to quite efficiently penetrate the membrane [4–9].
CNTs can be functionalized with different molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids,
and drugs [10, 11]. The delivered substances can be attached to the outer surface of
nanotube [12] as well as inner surface can be used [12–14]. Optical absorption in the
near-infrared [15], photoluminescence [16], Raman scattering [17], photoacoustic
[18], or echogenic properties [19] can be used to visualize the track of CNT in the
biological milieu [20–23].
In this work, we analyze the interaction mechanism between phospholipid bilayer
and carbon-based nanostructures during its movement via membrane. Besides of
our earlier works [24–27], there are relatively few computer simulation studies that
address the entry mechanism [28–30].
In this work, we present the results obtained for two armchair carbon nanotubes:
(10, 10) and (12, 12). The force required to pierce the membrane and membrane
P. Raczy´ nski () · M. Pabiszczak · Z. Gburski
Institute of Physics, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Silesian Centre of Education & Interdisciplinary Research, Chorzów, Poland
e-mail: przemyslaw.raczynski@us.edu.pl
© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018
O. Fesenko, L. Yatsenko (eds.), Nanochemistry, Biotechnology, Nanomaterials,
and Their Applications, Springer Proceedings in Physics 214,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92567-7_16
277
Interactions Between Carbon-Based
Nanostructures and Biomembranes:
Computer Simulations Study
Przemysław Raczy ´
nski, Mateusz Pabiszczak, and Zygmunt Gburski
16.1 Introduction
The cell membranes were created by nature as efficient protective barriers. An
important functional part of membrane is the phospholipid bilayer, the structure
that protects an interior of the cell from the external factors like uncontrolled
molecules transport from and into the cell [1–3]. Taking into account expansion
of novel fields like nano-medicine, employing nanostructures to deliver cargo to
cells via phospholipid bilayer is of considerable interests. Carbon nanotubes are
recognized as a potential noninvasive vehicle because experimental and theoretical
studies suggest that they are able to quite efficiently penetrate the membrane [4–9].
CNTs can be functionalized with different molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids,
and drugs [10, 11]. The delivered substances can be attached to the outer surface of
nanotube [12] as well as inner surface can be used [12–14]. Optical absorption in the
near-infrared [15], photoluminescence [16], Raman scattering [17], photoacoustic
[18], or echogenic properties [19] can be used to visualize the track of CNT in the
biological milieu [20–23].
In this work, we analyze the interaction mechanism between phospholipid bilayer
and carbon-based nanostructures during its movement via membrane. Besides of
our earlier works [24–27], there are relatively few computer simulation studies that
address the entry mechanism [28–30].
In this work, we present the results obtained for two armchair carbon nanotubes:
(10, 10) and (12, 12). The force required to pierce the membrane and membrane
P. Raczy´ nski () · M. Pabiszczak · Z. Gburski
Institute of Physics, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Silesian Centre of Education & Interdisciplinary Research, Chorzów, Poland
e-mail: przemyslaw.raczynski@us.edu.pl
© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018
O. Fesenko, L. Yatsenko (eds.), Nanochemistry, Biotechnology, Nanomaterials,
and Their Applications, Springer Proceedings in Physics 214,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92567-7_16
277