Physical effects of nano particles and polymer on vesicles

Abstract

Vesicles are considered as model systems in biochemistry and they are found useful in cosmetics, pharmaceutical, genetic engineering and medical technology. Nanoparticles are generally regarded as a type of drug and they typically require drug carriers to transport them. Vesicles can be considered as drug carriers, this research project is to investigate the physical effects of nanoparticles on the properties of vesicles by experimental approaches from microscopic view. Nanoparticles such as Latex and gold are chosen due to their physical and chemical properties. Laser light scatting along with imaging techniques such as Atomic Force Mocroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy are used for investigation. Interactions between vesicles and nanoparticles were found mainly by adsorption at particle surface. The vesicles were observed to be stayed as particles not as bilayer membranes when interact with nanoparticles. The amount of vesicles adsorbed on nanoparticles increases with vesicles concentration. The effects of ion charges of aqueous solution and time factor on the interactions are also studied. The nature of the interactions was further understood by the means of rheology.