Chemistry Central Blog
A dramatic phenomenon in which light triggers the sudden rupture of fatty acid vesicles has been observed in a primitive cell membrane model. The findings, published by Nobel Laureate Jack Szostak et al. in Journal of Systems Chemistry, could lead to applications such as targeted drug delivery, and the controlled deposition of functionalized nanoparticles in microfluidic devices.
Fatty acid vesicles are commonly used as models of primitive cell membranes in studies of abiogenesis. While studying large dye-containing oleate vesicles, the authors found that exposure to intense illumination caused them to suddenly explode, releasing their encapsulated dye along with smaller internal vesicles. They propose a mechanism in which reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated from the dye upon illumination. These ROS oxidize the internal buffer, leading to an increase in internal osmotic pressure, and ultimately, vesicle rupture.
This unexpected phenomenon could have a number of practical applications, including its use in cancer therapy. “A major question in treating cancer is how to localize the release of cytotoxic drugs to target tumors, thus reducing systemic toxicity” explains Szostak. “By delivering a drug such as a chemotherapeutic agent through photoactivation, exploding vesicles may be used to localize drug release and strengthen the effectiveness of cancer treatments.”
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