title: Effect of freeze-thawing on lipid bilayer-protected gold nanoparticles.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China.
authors.forename: Lixue
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Peicai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shaojun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Erkang
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D013395:Sucrose; D006046:Gold