Flavin-Conjugated Nanobombs: Key Structural Requirements Governing Their Self-Assemblies’ Morphologies

Jonathan Ribes (1, 2) , Nataliia Beztsinna (1, 2) , Remy Bailly (1, 2) , Sabine Castano (1, 2) , Estelle Rascol (1, 2) , Nada Taib-Maamar (1, 2) , Eduard Badarau (1, 2) , Isabelle Bestel (1, 2)

1 UB - Université de Bordeaux
2 CBMN - Chimie et Biologie des Membranes et des Nanoobjets

In contrast to artificial molecules, natural photosensitizers have the benefit of excellent toxicity profiles and of life-compatible activating energy ranges. Flavins are such photosensitizers that were selected by nature in a plethora of light-triggered biochemical reactions. Flavin-rich nanoparticles could thus emerge as promising tools in photodynamic therapies and in active-targeting drug delivery. Selfassembled flavin-conjugated phospholipids improve the pharmacokinetics of natural flavins and, in the case of controlled morphologies, reduce photobleaching phenomena. The current article presents a proof of concept for the design of riboflavin-rich nanoparticles of tunable morphology from multilamellar patches to vesicular self-assemblies. Coarse-grained simulations of the self-assembling process revealed the key interactions governing the obtained nanomaterials and successfully guided the synthesis of new flavin-conjugates of predictable self-assembly. The obtained flavin-based liposomes had a 65 nm hydrodynamic diameter, were stable, and showed potential photosensitizer activity.

Domaines: Chimie

Jonathan Ribes, Nataliia Beztsinna, Remy Bailly, Sabine Castano, Estelle Rascol, et al.. Flavin-Conjugated Nanobombs: Key Structural Requirements Governing Their Self-Assemblies’ Morphologies. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2021, 32, pp.553 - 562. ⟨10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00028⟩. ⟨hal-03448525⟩