(657b) Self-Assembled Nanoparticle-in-Nanoparticle Metal/Lipid Complex

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) such as gold (Au), silver, iron oxide NPs, quantum dots (QDs) have shown many unique properties including plasmonic effect, magnetism, bring emission, etc., which have potential applications for in vivo imaging as well as local, on-demand heating. It is desirable to improve their biocompatibility prior to these applications. The experimental results from dynamic light scattering, small angle X-ray scattering, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis absorption have demonstrated that nanometer-sized AuNPs and QDs, after their surface being modified with hydrophobic hydrocarbons, can be successfully incorporated into well-defined lipid NPs, e.g., discoidal bicelles or vesicles, forming NP-in-NP complexes. The morphology of such complex varies with the chain length of the conjugated hydrocarbons associated with AuNPs. The result of a coarse-grained molecular dynamics also indicates that 1-nm AuNPs can be entrapped and aggregate in the bilayer, further confirming the experimental observation. I will discuss over possible effects of AuNPs on the morphological variation of the bicelles, in order to provide insight to the metal/lipid self-assembled nanocomplex.