Harnessing steric hindrance to control interfacial adsorption of patchy nanoparticles onto hairy vesicles

Via the Dissipative Particle Dynamics simulation technique we investigate the interfacial adsorption of nanoparticles with a binding site onto a hairy vesicle encompassing phospholipids and lipids functionalized with oligo ethylene glycol (OEG) chain. The functionalized nanoparticles are modeled as patchy spherical particles. We examine the relation between the relative concentration and size of the OEG chains, the adsorption kinetics, life-time and post-adsorption dynamics of the nanoparticles. We also draw correspondence with experimental studies on the adsorption of proteins onto the surface of colloidal particles. Results from our investigations can elucidate the fundamental factors and mechanisms controlling the adsorption of functionalized nanoparticles onto colloidal particles.