Layered paving of vesicular nanoparticles formed with cerasome as a bioinspired organic-inorganic hybrid

A three-dimensional packed vesicular assembly was successfully prepared by using an organic-inorganic hybrid, the Cerasome. This assembly was achieved by using an alternate layer-by-layer adsorption technique with the anionic and the cationic Cerasome derived from corresponding organoalkoxysilane amphiphiles. Adsorption quantities of each Cerasome layer were evaluated by employing a quartz crystal microbalance. The surface structure of the Cerasome paving on a substrate obtained in this way was observed by atomic force microscopy. The Cerasome particles closely packed like a stone pavement were clearly observed in both layers. In addition, the difference in the particle size for each layer indicates the cationic and anionic Cerasomes undoubtedly formed the layer-by-layer assembly. The layered paving of the vesicular nanoparticles was seen in every layer at least up to ten adsorption steps. Copyright © 2002 American Chemical Society.