Issue 18, 2024

Shape anisotropy induced jamming of nanoparticles at liquid interfaces: a tensiometric study

Abstract

The intersection of nanotechnology and interfacial science has opened up new avenues for understanding complex phenomena occurring at liquid interfaces. The assembly of nanoparticles at liquid/liquid interfaces provides valuable insights into their interactions with fluid interfaces, essential for various applications, including drug delivery. In this study, we focus on the shape and concentration effects of nanoscale particles on interfacial affinity. Using pendant drop tensiometry, we monitor the real-time interfacial tension between an oil droplet and an aqueous solution containing nanoparticles. We measure two different types of nanoparticles: spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and anisotropic gold nanorods (AuNRs), each functionalized with surfactants to facilitate interaction at the interface. We observe that the interface equilibrium behaviour is mediated by kinetic processes, namely, diffusion, adsorption and rearrangement of particles. For anisotropic AuNRs, we observe shape-induced jamming of particles at the interface, as evidenced by their slower diffusivity and invariant rearrangement rate. In contrast, the adsorption of spherical AuNPs is dynamic and requires more time to reach equilibrium, indicating weaker interface affinity. By detailed analysis of the interfacial tension data and interaction energy calculations, we show that the anisotropic particle shape achieves stable equilibrium inter-particle separation compared to the isotropic particles. Our findings demonstrate that anisotropic particles are a better design choice for drug delivery applications as they provide better affinity for fluid interface attachment, a crucial requirement for efficient drug transport across cell membranes. Additionally, anisotropic shapes can stabilize interfaces at low particle concentrations compared to isotropic particles, thus minimizing side effects associated with biocompatibility and toxicity.

Graphical abstract: Shape anisotropy induced jamming of nanoparticles at liquid interfaces: a tensiometric study

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Apr 2024
Accepted
15 Jul 2024
First published
24 Jul 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Nanoscale Adv., 2024,6, 4683-4692

Shape anisotropy induced jamming of nanoparticles at liquid interfaces: a tensiometric study

C. Kumar, S. Bhattacharjee and S. Srivastava, Nanoscale Adv., 2024, 6, 4683 DOI: 10.1039/D4NA00280F

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