Analysis of Phospholipid Bilayers on Gold Nanorods\nby Plasmon Resonance Sensing and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering\n(SERS) and localized surface\nplasmon resonance sensing (LSPR) have been applied for a detailed\nanalysis of lipid bilayers at the surface of gold nanorods. The spatial\ndependence of surface enhancement and the optical effects of the lipid\nphase transition confirm the presence of a bilayer membrane structure.\nDeuterated lipids exchanged rapidly between the nanorod surface and\nlipid vesicles in solution, suggesting a loosely bound, natural membrane\nstructure. However, at a low solution concentration of lipid vesicles,\nthe lipids on the gold nanorod surface convert to a nonbilayer structure,\nwhich could impact biological applications of these nanomaterials.