Insertion mechanism and stability of boron nitride nanotubes in lipid bilayers

Michael Thomas; Marta Enciso; Tamsyn A. Hilder

doi:10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b00102

Insertion mechanism and stability of boron nitride nanotubes in lipid bilayers

Michael Thomas, Marta Enciso, Tamsyn A. Hilder^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We provide insight into the interaction of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) with cell membranes to better understand their improved biocompatibility compared to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Contrary to CNTs, no computational studies exist investigating the insertion mechanism and stability of BNNTs in membranes. Our molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that BNNTs are spontaneously attracted to lipid bilayers and are stable once inserted. They insert via a lipid-mediated, passive insertion mechanism. BNNTs demonstrate similar characteristics to more biocompatible functionalized CNTs.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4929-4936
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Physical Chemistry B
Volume	119
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b00102
Publication status	Published - 16 Apr 2015

Access to Document

10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b00102

Cite this

@article{bfe5016d895d40e28b3edfbd5fb8bab0,

title = "Insertion mechanism and stability of boron nitride nanotubes in lipid bilayers",

abstract = "We provide insight into the interaction of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) with cell membranes to better understand their improved biocompatibility compared to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Contrary to CNTs, no computational studies exist investigating the insertion mechanism and stability of BNNTs in membranes. Our molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that BNNTs are spontaneously attracted to lipid bilayers and are stable once inserted. They insert via a lipid-mediated, passive insertion mechanism. BNNTs demonstrate similar characteristics to more biocompatible functionalized CNTs.",

author = "Michael Thomas and Marta Enciso and Hilder, {Tamsyn A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 American Chemical Society.",

year = "2015",

month = apr,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b00102",

language = "English",

volume = "119",

pages = "4929--4936",

journal = "Journal of Physical Chemistry B",

issn = "1520-6106",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "15",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Insertion mechanism and stability of boron nitride nanotubes in lipid bilayers

AU - Thomas, Michael

AU - Enciso, Marta

AU - Hilder, Tamsyn A.

PY - 2015/4/16

Y1 - 2015/4/16

N2 - We provide insight into the interaction of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) with cell membranes to better understand their improved biocompatibility compared to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Contrary to CNTs, no computational studies exist investigating the insertion mechanism and stability of BNNTs in membranes. Our molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that BNNTs are spontaneously attracted to lipid bilayers and are stable once inserted. They insert via a lipid-mediated, passive insertion mechanism. BNNTs demonstrate similar characteristics to more biocompatible functionalized CNTs.

AB - We provide insight into the interaction of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) with cell membranes to better understand their improved biocompatibility compared to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Contrary to CNTs, no computational studies exist investigating the insertion mechanism and stability of BNNTs in membranes. Our molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that BNNTs are spontaneously attracted to lipid bilayers and are stable once inserted. They insert via a lipid-mediated, passive insertion mechanism. BNNTs demonstrate similar characteristics to more biocompatible functionalized CNTs.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84927929822&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b00102

DO - 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b00102

M3 - Article

SN - 1520-6106

VL - 119

SP - 4929

EP - 4936

JO - Journal of Physical Chemistry B

JF - Journal of Physical Chemistry B

IS - 15

ER -

Insertion mechanism and stability of boron nitride nanotubes in lipid bilayers

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this