Self-Assembly and rheo-mechanical responses of nanoscale objects in confinement

The assembly of nanoparticles at liquid-liquid interfaces provides valuable insights into their interactions with fluid interfaces, essential for various applications, including drug delivery. We focus on the shape and concentration effects of nanoscale particles on interfacial affinity. Using pendant drop tensiometry, we monitor the real-time interfacial tension between an oil droplet and an aqueous solution containing nanoparticles. We measure two different types of nanoparticles: spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and anisotropic gold nanorods (AuNRs), each functionalized with surfactants to enhance interfacial stability. Our findings demonstrate that anisotropic particles are a better design choice for drug delivery applications as they exhibit greater affinity for fluid interface attachment, a crucial requirement for efficient drug transport across cell membranes