I hope we will not need to reinvent the wheel. Quick (maybe not very smart) question: How do you distinguish between these tw particles? Any proposed technique will definitely provide the answer. We have tried TEM, DLS, and zeta size but have come to no definitive conclusions.
A few TEM pictures are attached.
Also, we are looking for cooperation in this field. Any help will be highly appreciated.
Hi Adam,
most likely TEM pictures show radiation damage or bubbles. Only Fig.3 might manifest in the left bottom corner something that could be attributed to liposomes. I suggest light scattering (DLS and SLS) or SAXS/SANS.
By obtaining Rg value from SLS and Rh value from DLS you can calculate rho=Rg/Rh. This parameter is sensitive to internal structure. Check the papers of Walther Burchard. He invented this ages ago. The rho value is different for compact particles (micelles) and shells (liposomes). This approach was popular 20-30 year ago.
We have used it as well. Your can check this publication
Article Thermoresponsive, Hydrolytically Degradable Polymer Micelles...
However, Small-angle X-ray or neutron scattering gives a better clue on nanoparticle internal structure. Just Google on "SAXS/SANS and liposomes"
Article New insights on the release and self-healing model of stimul...
A size bar would be helpful, but they look like very large objects to be micelles and I do not observe bilayers clearly.
Czesc Adam,
if your nanoparticles are mobile and hydrated, the TEM where you dry them on a mesh is not the best technique. cryo TEM will be a much better technique for such nanoparticles. If you have a mixture of micelles and vesicles the interpretation of the DLS/SAXS/SANS scattering data will be quite complicated if their sizes do not differ much.
Adam Lesner
It would be very useful to write what and how you took these pictures from. Then it would be possible to answer your question more accurately.
Sorry for delay in discussion. The pictures are from TEM not cryo Tem. So this is, to my understanding, the main issue we have to cope with. The scale of the pictures are visible in full in the lower upper corner after choosing the full size image option (after clicking).
Many thanks all for sharing your knowledge.
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