Phase transfer-driven rapid and complete ligand exchange for molecular assembly of phospholipid bilayers on aqueous gold nanocrystals.

A phase transfer-mediated ligand exchange method is developed for highly selective and rapid synthesis of colloidal phospholipid bilayer-coated gold nanocrystals. The complete replacement of strongly bound surface ligands such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and citrate by phospholipid bilayer can be quickly achieved by water-chloroform phase transfer.