Human cells are very stable due to a network structure called the cytoskeleton.Liposomes, which are artificial lipid bilayer vesicles mainly composed of lipids, have been used as materials for drug transport capsules and cosmetics, but because they do not have a cytoskeleton-like structure, they break with a slight stimulus. There was a problem that it would end up.If it is hard to break and the strength can be changed freely, the function as a capsule can be greatly improved, so that method has been craving.

　This time, in order to improve the strength of liposomes, we constructed a network structure that supports the membrane like a cytoskeleton using DNA nanotechnology.As the temperature drops, the DNA used in the study binds to each other while maintaining branching to form a network-like structure.In addition, since DNA is negatively charged, by making it positively charged only in the liposome, it was possible to form the skeleton of DNA directly under the membrane by inquiring positive and negative.Liposomes usually disintegrate with a slight osmotic pressure difference, but due to their skeleton consisting of DNA, they did not disintegrate even in the osmotic pressure change environment assumed in the body.This reinforcing function is derived from the fact that DNA forms a network with each other, and its strength is further determined by the base sequence of DNA.Therefore, strength control by designing the DNA structure is expected.

　Increasing the durability of liposomes was the biggest challenge in applying it to medicated capsules and cosmetics, but this achievement may overcome this problem.

Paper information:[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America] DNA cytoskeleton for stabilizing artificial cells