title: Hydrophobic interactions modulate self-assembly of nanoparticles.
abstract: Hydrophobic interactions constitute one of the most important types of nonspecific interactions in biological systems, which emerge when water molecules rearrange as two hydrophobic species come close to each other. The prediction of hydrophobic interactions at the level of nanoparticles (Brownian objects) remains challenging because of uncontrolled diffusive motion of the particles. We describe here a general methodology for solvent-induced, reversible self-assembly of gold nanoparticles into 3D clusters with well-controlled sizes. A theoretical description of the process confirmed that hydrophobic interactions are the main driving force behind nanoparticle aggregation.
authors.affiliation: Bionanoplasmonics Laboratory, CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009 Donostia, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Iglesias
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grzelczak
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Altantzis
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goris
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez-Juste
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bals
authors.forename: Gustaaf
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Tendeloo
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: Bradley F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Chmelka
authors.forename: Jacob N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Israelachvili
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Liz-Marzán
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008823:Micelles; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D008823:Micelles; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012997:Solvents; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C006903:carbopol 940