title: Insertion of nanoparticle clusters into vesicle bilayers.
abstract: A major contemporary concern in developing effective liposome-nanoparticle hybrids is the present inclusion size limitation of nanoparticles between vesicle bilayers, which is considered to be around 6.5 nm in diameter. In this article, we present experimental observations backed by theoretical considerations which show that greater structures can be incorporated within vesicle membranes by promoting the clustering of nanoparticles before liposome formation. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography confirm these observations at unprecedented detail and underpin that the liposome membranes can accommodate flexible structures of up to 60 nm in size. These results imply that this material is more versatile in terms of inclusion capabilities and consequently widens the opportunities in developing multivalent vesicles for nanobiotechnology applications.
authors.affiliation: Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg , Route de l'Ancienne Papéterie CP209, 1723 Marly 1, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonnaud
authors.forename: Christophe A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Monnier
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Demurtas
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jud
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanhecke
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Montet
authors.forename: Ruud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hovius
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lattuada
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rothen-Rutishauser
authors.forename: Alke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petri-Fink
mesh_terms: D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008081:Liposomes; D008823:Micelles; C000499:ferric oxide