We show by molecular dynamics that amphiphilic Au nanoparticles (NP) with a diameter of 4 nm generate curvature in phosphatidylcholine lipid membranes. NPs generate negative curvature when they adsorb on the membrane surface but, as they get spontaneously and progressively embedded into the membrane core, the curvature turns positive. As membrane embedding is kinetically slow, both configurations can be observed by Cryo-EM. NP-induced curvature explains the peculiar structure of liposome-liposome interfaces in presence of NPs.
Type
research article
Web of Science ID
WOS:000705672900001
Authors
Publication date
2021-10-04
Publisher
Published in
Volume
13
Issue
40
Start page
16879
End page
16884
Peer reviewed
REVIEWED
Written at
EPFL
EPFL units
Available on Infoscience
October 23, 2021
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