The Free and Restricted Diffusion of Silicon Nanocrystal Clusters
Abstract
Biological applications for silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) have recently gained more
attention because of silicon’s low toxicity. But, to be able to use SiNCs in applications such
as biological sensors, labeling or drug delivery we need to understand their transport in
different environments and their interaction with cell membrane. I will review some
different methods for the synthesis of, and I will give an accounting of encapsulating SiNCs
with PEGylated phospholipids to make them soluble in water. I also studied the free
diffusion of these micelles in water, as well as their restricted diffusion and interaction with
giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). I studied their restricted diffusion in oil emulsions. I
was able to calculate the diffusion coefficient for a large number of micelles moving freely
in water. I also measured the effect of water on the SiNC micelles intensity and observed
the difference between the restricted diffusion in liposomes and emulsions.