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On Cell-Nanomaterial Interactions

Huajian Gao (Brown University)

Mechanics and Physics of Biological Cells

Tue 10:45 - 12:15

Barus-Holley 141

Nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, nanowires, nanofibers and graphene have potential applications for next generation microchips, composites, barrier coatings, biosensors, and drug delivery. There is also an urgent need to understand the hazards of nanomaterials to health. In this talk, we will discuss some recent studies at Brown University on the mechanics of cell-nanomaterial interactions, including the mechanics of cellular uptake of nanoparticles by receptor-mediated endocytosis and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of complete lipid bilayer segments interacting with nanoparticles. The discussions will be organized around the following questions: Why and how does cellular uptake of nanoparticles depend on the particle size, shape, aspect ratio and elasticity [1-3]? In particular for this talk, we will discuss the effect of elastic stiffness on cell-particle interactions [2] and how cylindrical one-dimensional nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes [3] enter cells. References: [1] H. Gao, W. Shi and L. B. Freund, “Mechanics of Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis,” 2005, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, Vol. 102 (27), pp. 9469-9474. [2] X. Yi, X. Shi and H. Gao, “Cellular Uptake of Elastic Nanoparticles,” 2011, Physical Review Letters, Vol. 107(9), Art. No. 098101. [3] X. Shi, A. von dem Bussche, R.H. Hurt, A.B. Kane and H. Gao, “Cell Entry of One-Dimensional Nanomaterials Occurs by Tip Recognition and Rotation,” 2011, Nature Nanotechnology, Vol. 6(11), pp. 714–719.