Polymeric Amphiphile Branching Leads to Rare Nanodisc Shaped Planar Self-Assemblies

Self-assembly is fundamental to the biological function of cells and the fabrication of nanomaterials. However, the origin of the shape of various self-assemblies, such as the shape of cells, is not altogether clear. Polymeric, oligomeric, or low molecular weight amphiphiles are a rich source of nan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Langmuir 2008-09, Vol.24 (18), p.9997-10004
Main Authors: Qu, Xiaozhong, Omar, Leila, Le, Thi Bich Hang, Tetley, Laurence, Bolton, Katherine, Chooi, Kar Wai, Wang, Wei, Uchegbu, Ijeoma F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemistry
Cholesterol - chemistry
Colloidal state and disperse state
Colloids: Surfactants and Self-Assembly, Dispersions, Emulsions, Foams
Dendrimers - chemistry
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Exact sciences and technology
General and physical chemistry
Lipid Bilayers - chemistry
Membranes
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Models, Chemical
Molecular Conformation
Nanoparticles - chemistry
Nanostructures - chemistry
Nanotechnology - methods
Polyethylene Glycols
Polymers - chemistry
Polypropylenes - chemistry
Surface physical chemistry
Surface Properties
Thermodynamics
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Summary:Self-assembly is fundamental to the biological function of cells and the fabrication of nanomaterials. However, the origin of the shape of various self-assemblies, such as the shape of cells, is not altogether clear. Polymeric, oligomeric, or low molecular weight amphiphiles are a rich source of nanomaterials, and controlling their self-assembly is the route to tailored nanosystems with specific functionalities. Here, we provide direct evidence that a particular molecular architecture, polymeric branching, leads to a rare form of self-assembly, the planar nanodisc. Cholesterol containing self-assemblies formed from amphiphilic linear or branched cetyl poly(ethylenimine) (Mn ∼ 1000 Da) or amphiphilic cetyl poly(propylenimine) dendrimer derivatives (Mn ∼ 2000 Da) show that branching, by reducing the hydrophilic headgroup area, alters the shape of the self-assemblies transforming closed 60 nm spherical bilayer vesicles to rare 50 nm × 10 nm planar bilayer discs. Increasing the hydrophilic headgroup area, by the inclusion of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) moieties into the amphiphilic headgroup, transforms the planar discs to 100 nm spherical bilayer vesicles. This study provides insight into the key role played by molecular shape on molecular self-organization into rare nanodiscs.
ISSN:0743-7463
1520-5827
DOI:10.1021/la8007848