Millisecond phase transition kinetics of lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles observed by time-resolved small angle x-ray solution scattering.

This study investigates the dynamic behavior of lyotropic liquid crystal nanoparticles (LCNPs), which are widely recognized for their applications in drug delivery. By employing nanosecond near-infrared (NIR) laser pulse-induced temperature jump (T-jump) and time-resolved X-ray solution scattering (TRXSS), the structural dynamics of phase transitions in phytantriol-based cubosomes and hexosomes are revealed. Both cubosome and hexosome LCNPs undergo phase transitions into non-crystalline phases at high temperatures. Their phase transition kinetics, occurring within milliseconds (ms) and involving one intermediate structure, were captured. Additionally, the reverse self-assembly processes of LCNPs were observed, occurring on the timescale of a few hundred ms. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of LCNP T-jump induced phase transitions on the ms timescale and their reverse self-assembly. These findings provide valuable insights into the LCNP phase transition processes, with potential implications for drug delivery applications.