Vesicle-like assemblies of ligand-stabilized nanoparticles with controllable membrane composition and properties. Issue 4 (14th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Ji-eun; Seo, Myungjoo; Jang, Eunseon; Kim, Haein; Kim, Jun Soo; Park, So-Jung
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 11:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 1837
• Page End: 1846
• Publication Date: 2019-01-14
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c8nr07918h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : Inorganic nanoparticles modified with simple alkylthiol ligands can organize into unique vesicle-like hollow assemblies with controllable membrane thickness, composition, and properties. Abstract : Here, we report that nanoparticles modified with simple end-functionalized alkyl thiol ligands show interesting directional self-assembly behavior and can act as an effective surfactant to encapsulate other functional molecules and nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles modified with the mixture of alkyl thiols and hydroxyl-terminated alkyl thiols organize into unique vesicle-like structures with controllable membrane thicknesses. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the ligand segregation and the edge-to-edge ligand binding are responsible for the two-dimensional assembly formation. Furthermore, the nanoparticle assemblies can encapsulate other functional nanoparticles into the membrane or inside the cavity, generating multicomponent inorganic vesicles with various morphologies. The light-induced release profiles of encapsulated dye molecules showed that the membrane properties can be controlled by varying the membrane thickness and ligand composition.