synthesis-and-characterization-of-amphiphilic-gold-nanoparticles

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Gold Nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles covered with a mixture of 1-octanethiol (OT) and 11-mercapto-1-undecane sulfonic acid (MUS) have been extensively studied because of ...

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Chiral mixed ligand silver nanoclusters were synthesized in the presence of a chiral and an achiral ligand. While the chiral ligand led mostly to the formation of nanoparticles, the presence of the achiral ligand drastically increased the yield of nanoclusters with enhanced chiral properties. 

Synthesis and characterization of mixed ligand chiral nanoclusters.

The development of synthetic nanomaterials that could embed within, penetrate, or induce fusion between membranes without permanent disruption would have great significance for biomedical applications. Here we describe structure-function relationships of highly water-soluble gold nanoparticles comprised of an ∼1.5-5 nm diameter metal core coated by an amphiphilic organic ligand shell, which exhibit membrane embedding and fusion activity mediated by the surface ligands. Using an environment-sensitive dye anchored within the ligand shell as a sensor of membrane embedding, we demonstrate that particles with core sizes of ∼2-3 nm are capable of embedding within and penetrating fluid bilayers. At the nanoscale, these particles also promote spontaneous fusion of liposomes or spontaneously embed within intact liposomal vesicles. These studies provide nanoparticle design and selection principles that could be used in drug delivery applications, as membrane stains, or for the creation of novel organic/inorganic nanomaterial self-assemblies.

Zekiye P. Guven

Institute of Materials

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Gold Nanoparticles

Zekiye P. Guven

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École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Gold Nanoparticles

Institute of Materials