Single-walled carbon nanotubes do not pierce aqueous phospholipid bilayers at low salt concentration

Because of their unique physical, chemical, and electrical properties, carbon nanotubes are an attractive material for many potential applications. Their interactions with biological entities are, however, not yet completely understood. To fill this knowledge gap, we present experimental results for aqueous systems containing single-walled carbon nanotubes and phospholipid membranes, prepared in the form of liposomes. Our results suggest that dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes, instead of piercing the liposome membranes, adsorb on them at low ionic strength. Transmission electron microscopy and dye-leakage experiments show that the liposomes remain for the most part intact in the presence of the nanotubes. Further, the liposomes are found to stabilize carbon nanotube dispersions when the surfactant sodium dodecylbenezenesulfonate is present at low concentrations. Quantifying the interactions between carbon nanotubes and phospholipid membranes could not only shed light on potential nanotubes cytotoxicity but also open up new research venues for their use in controlled drug delivery and/or gene and cancer therapy.