Fluidity-Guided Assembly of Au@Pt on Liposomes as a Catalase-Powered Nanomotor for Effective Cell Uptake in Cancer Cells and Plant Leaves

Abstract

The fluidity of the liposomes is essential to nanoparticle-membrane interactions. We herein report a liposomal nanomotor system by controlling the self-assembly behavior of gold core-platinum shell nanoparticles (Au@Pt) on liposomes. Au@Pt can aggregate immediately on fluid-phase dioleoyl-<i>sn</i>-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) liposomes, forming an uneven distribution. By control of the lipid phase and fluidity, either using pure 1,2-dipalmitoyl-<i>sn</i>-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) above its phase transition temperature or adding cholesterol as an adjuvant to DPPC lipids, we precisely control the assembly of Au@Pt on liposomes. Au@Pt maintained high catalase-like activity on the liposomal surface, promoting the decomposition of H₂O₂ and the movement of the liposomal nanomotors. Finally, we demonstrate that liposomal nanomotors are biocompatible and they can speed up the cellular uptake in mammalian HepG2 cancer cells and <i>Nicotiana tabacum</i> (<i>Nb</i>) plant leaves. This liposomal nanomotor system is expected to be further investigated in biomedicine and plant nanotechnology.