Fig. 6.

Hypothesis on capping layer structure as composed by two sub‐layers and effect of detergent treatments: capping layer is composed of an inner monolayer of strongly bound molecules and an outer layer of other molecules weakly associated with Se core or with the inner monolayer. This outer layer could be in equilibrium with the resuspension environment. Different detergents could damage the inner layer or interact with the outer molecules. When the inner layer is damaged (even if it cannot be totally detached), it results in SeNP destabilization and aggregation (A). Alternatively, detergents could remove part of the outer molecules, leading to minor destabilization, or also integrate in the outer layer, stabilizing the structure (B).