Synthesis of organic–inorganic hybrid bicelles–lipid bilayer nanodiscs encompassed by siloxane surfaces

Well-defined hybrid nanodiscs were produced by employing bicelle formation of a binary lipid mixture in water. The resulting nanoparticles have a lipid bilayer coated with ceramic layers, which are formed by the sol-gel reaction among the alkoxysilyl headgroups of the hybrid lipid. The hybrid bicelles displayed significant morphological stability against dry environments and surfactant addition, in stark contrast to conventional phospholipid bicelles.