Specific and nondisruptive interaction of guanidium-functionalized gold nanoparticles with neutral phospholipid bilayers

Abstract

Guanidinium-containing macromolecules, such as arginine-rich peptides, have peculiar properties in their interactions with membranes, including efficient translocation. Here the authors show that cationic gold nanoparticles functionalized with guanidinium groups can specifically and nondisruptively interact with phospholipid bilayer membranes.