Effect of freeze-thawing on lipid bilayer-protected gold nanoparticles.
In this study, varieties of lipid bilayer-protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized through a simple wet chemical method, and then the effect of freeze-thawing on the as-prepared AuNPs was investigated. The freeze-thawing process induced fusion or fission of lipid bilayers tethered on the AuNPs. The UV-vis spectra and transmission electron microscopy experiments revealed that the disruption of lipid bilayer structures on the nanoparticles led to the fusion or aggregation of AuNPs. The role of freeze-thawing in the evolution of lipid bilayer-protected AuNPs was studied. The addition of adequate sucrose, a well-known cryoprotectant, effectively prevented the fusion or aggregation of lipid bilayer-protected AuNPs undergoing the freeze-thawing process. The possible mechanism of sucrose preserving the integrity of the lipid bilayer-protected AuNPs was also discussed.
Zhang
Lixue
L
State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China.
Li
Peicai
P
Li
Dan
D
Guo
Shaojun
S
Wang
Erkang
E
D005615:Freezing; D006046:Gold; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D013395:Sucrose; D006046:Gold