Nanoparticle‐Imprinted Polymers: Shell‐Selective Recognition of Au Nanoparticles by Imprinting Using the Langmuir–Blodgett Method

Abstract

Speciation of nanoparticles, that is, their differentiation based on size, shape and stabilizing shell is becoming important since their properties depend on these parameters. Nanoparticle‐imprinted polymers (NIPs) are a new approach that aims to selectively recognize nanoparticles based on their structural properties. In this study, monolayers of cellulose acetate (CA) accommodating gold nanoparticles stabilized with dodecanethiol (AuNPs/C12) are transferred onto indium tin oxide (ITO) by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique. One to five monolayers are assembled. Electrochemical oxidation dissolves the AuNPs/C12 to form cavities in the films, which fit the size and shape of the AuNPs/C12. Reuptake of the nanoparticles from a solution is successful using the imprinted films, whereas the control films containing only CA layers do not reuptake the AuNPs/C12. The NIPs are highly selective and other gold nanoparticles stabilized by other thiols are not recognized by the imprinted matrix.

Shell–Matrix Interaction in Nanoparticle-Imprinted Matrices: Implications for Selective Nanoparticle Detection and Separation

“…The high selectivity achieved was primarily due to size exclusion. More recently, we have demonstrated that the nature of the matrix and its interaction with the imprinted NPs affect their recognition and play a major role. − NAIMs are envisioned to enable the assembly of either sensors or separation devices for NPs.…”

Quantum dot-imprinted polymers with size and shell-selective recognition properties

“…5 In another example, the group of Mandler used the Langmuir-Blodgett technique to transfer gold nanoparticles concomitantly to polyaniline or cellulose acetate monolayers onto a conducting indium-doped tin oxide support. [6][7] The gold nanoparticles were then dissolved by electrochemical oxidation, leaving nanocavities embedded in the polymer film, which fit the size and shape of the etched nanoparticles. This strategy afforded ultra-thin layers (1 to 5 nm) of nanoparticle-imprinted polymers for size and shell-selective recognition of nanoparticles.…”

“…To afford a real speciation of nanoparticles and differentiate nanoparticles with various sizes, shapes and surface chemistry, recent studies reported the use of two-dimensional or surfaceimprinted polymers. [5][6][7] The imprinting concept consists of creating cavities of roughly the same size and shape as that of the template on the surface or in the bulk of a chemical matrix. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] These cavities formed in the polymer are complementary, both sterically and chemically to the template.…”

Imprinted Photonic Hydrogels for the Size‐ and Shell‐Selective Recognition of Nanoparticles

“…Herein, we explore a novel strategy to detect nanoparticles by combining the concepts of inverse‐opal hydrogels and nanoparticle‐imprinted polymers . The latter concept extends the well‐known method of molecularly imprinted polymers to nanoparticle analytes.…”