A Thermoplasmonic Approach for Investigating Plasma Membrane Repair in Living Cells and Model Membranes

Our research is focused on investigation of plasma membrane repair mechanisms, in both living cells, but also in biomimetic systems, called the giant unilamellar vesicles. We are particularly interested in understanding the role of proteins like annexins and facilitating surface repair. These intricate processes are explored using our innovative thermoplasmonic puncture technique.

Currently, cell repair is being investigated using pulse lasers, combined with molecular biology, to identify proteins that are recruited to the site of injury. The drawback of this approach is that it's hard to control the extent of damage caused by using pulse lasers. Currently, our experiments come with a few challenges.

We're working on fine tuning the alignment of our laser focus with a nanoparticle, which is crucial for precision, and although it can be a bit tricky, we're also actively working on minimizing the formation of nanobubbles during the heating process. Our research demonstrated that annexin proteins swiftly respond to calcium influx, playing a key role in membrane repair, and reveal diverse behaviors of individual annexins. To better understand the mechanisms involved, we turned by biomimetic systems, allowing us to precisely measure how annexins influence membrane bending near a membrane hole.

Our protocol meets the need for precise localized membrane injuries in healthy cells. It provides valuable insight into live cell membrane repair mechanisms. Furthermore, it enabled the study of the biophysical role of membrane proteins recruited to the annular region near upper head in biomimetic membranes.