Liposome Adsorption Dynamics Induced by Gold Surface Functionalization

Early disease detection is vital. Biosensors using phospholipid films or core-shell lipid-based nanostructures can aid this process. This study examined the influence of gold surface functionalization with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on liposome adsorption using Atomic Force Microscopy and Quartz Crystal Microbalance. Comparing hydrophobic octanethiol and hydrophilic 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) SAMs, we found that liposome adsorption on the hydrophilic surface occurred significantly faster, requiring only 20 seconds, compared to hydrophobic surfaces which took over 1,000 seconds. Furthermore, the hydrophilic surface exhibited a higher adsorbed mass of approximately 200 ng, suggesting multilayer formation, while hydrophobic surfaces showed around 150 ng of deposited liposomes. These results highlight the crucial role of surface wettability, dictated by SAM polarity, in controlling the kinetics and extent of lipid bilayer formation for applications in biosensors and drug delivery nanotechnology.