Lipid vesicles induced ordered nanoassemblies of Janus nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Advanced applications necessitate precisely assembled nanoparticles (NPs).
• While top-down methods exist, self-assembly offers a route to intricate nanoassemblies, often DNA-mediated.
• Controlling NP assembly geometry is crucial for targeted functionalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the self-assembly of nanoparticles mediated by lipid vesicles (LVs).
• To demonstrate how Janus NPs and LVs can form highly ordered nanoassemblies.
• To explore the geometric principles governing NP arrangement on LVs.

Main Methods:

• Extensive molecular dynamics simulations were employed.
• Janus nanoparticles were utilized to control wrapping by lipid vesicles.
• The influence of curvature-mediated repulsion and NP adhesion number was analyzed.

Main Results:

• Lipid vesicles effectively mediate the self-assembly of nanoparticles into ordered structures.
• Janus NPs adhered to LVs form polyhedral nanoassemblies.
• The observed geometries include deltahedra and Platonic solids (tetrahedron, octahedron, icosahedron), consistent with Euler's formula.

Conclusions:

• Adhesion to lipid vesicles provides a robust mechanism for NP self-assembly.
• Curvature-mediated repulsion and NP density dictate the final polyhedral geometry.
• This approach offers a pathway for designing and fabricating complex nanoassemblies with specific geometries.