Resolving Phospholipid-Molecule Mobility and DNA-Mediated Combinatorial Fusion for a Single Nanoliposome by Plasmonic Imaging

Disclosing the stimuli-responsive dynamics of nanoliposomes and interdependence of interfaces is central for the transport and release of biomolecules in signal transduction and intracellular trafficking processes. Here, we utilized a noninvasive plasmonic imaging strategy for directly visualizing the phospholipid-molecule mobility and DNA-programmed combinatorial membrane fusion events down to the single nanoliposome level. Distinct intermediate states and thermodynamics during the transient interplay between a single nanoliposome and interfaces can be recognized until reaching the equilibrium stage. Spatial discrimination of a single nanoliposome regulated by external stimulus reveals stepwise diffusion kinetics attributed to the heterogeneous phospholipid-molecule collapse behavior. Furthermore, the real-time programmable fusion event induced by orthogonally hybridizing sets of membrane-anchored DNA molecules is captured for lipidic nanoreactors, which uncovers the specific dynamics and mechanism information. This imaging strategy shows potential in characterizing chemical engineered and functionalized nanoscale reactors and containers in biological systems.