Self-assembled lipid nanostructures encapsulating nanoparticles in aqueous solution

Abstract

Liposomes and nanoparticles, as well as their composite nanostructures, have great promise for potential applications in the nanobiotechnology of drug delivery and cancer therapy. Here, we use the self-consistent field method to investigate the interaction between lipid molecules and nanoparticles in an aqueous solution. It is shown that lipid molecules can self-assemble into monolayered or bilayered structures encapsulating nanoparticles. By varying the concentration of lipid molecules as well as the surface charge density and size of particles, several novel self-assembled nanostructures have been found. This method could be used to predict and design novel nanovehicles and nanomedicine carries for various biomedical applications, and the obtained results are helpful for gaining a deeper understanding of lipid-nanoparticle interactions.