Shape control synthesis of polymeric hybrid nanoparticles via surface‐initiated atom‐transfer radical polymerization

Abstract

Polymeric hybrid nanoparticles were synthesized via surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) method on the surface of gold nanoparticles in cyclohexanone. Tetraoctyl ammonium bromide (TOAB) as a phase transfer agent was used to transfer the gold nanoparticles into cyclohexanone, which will be replaced by disulfide initiator on the surface of gold nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-vis spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the product to make sure the experiment had been conducted. The results showed that the polymeric gold hybrid nanoparticles with different structures could be controlled by adjusting the ratio of initiator and gold nanoparticles in ATRP. If the ratio is very little, asymmetric polystyrene-gold hybrid nanoparticles were synthesized, and a single gold nanoparticle was attached with a polystyrene sphere. If the ratio becomes larger, core-shell polystyrene-gold nanocomposite particles were obtained resulting in gold nanoparticle encapsulated by a uniform polymer shell.

Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization for the Preparation of Well-Defined Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Nanomaterials

“…The organic polymer layer covering the metallic core of the gold nanoparticles leads to the creation of hybrid materials, which can be used as a molecular diagnostic tool as well as element of the drug delivery system, hence the wide interest in the modification of such nanoparticles exhibiting high application ability in biomedical fields. It is worth noting that intensified research on the modification of gold nanoparticles in recent years effected in simple modifications [63] through a core–shell structure of gold NPs [64] or even advanced biomedical applications such as the SiRNA delivery system reported in 2018 [52].…”

“…Recently, Song et al [64] presented dependence between the shape of polymeric gold hybrid nanoparticles versus the ratio between initiator and the Au NPs used in SI-ATRP with 917 ppm of Cu catalyst species (Cu I Br/ N , N , N ′, N ″, N ″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA)). The core–shell or asymmetric structures has been prepared through adjusting the proportion of disulfide initiator and gold nanoparticles.…”

“…Transmission electron microscope (TEM) pictures showed that if 0.025–0.25 mL of disulfide initiator was added to the gold nanoparticles, an asymmetric structure of polystyrene–gold hybrid was obtained and a single gold nanoparticle was attached with a polystyrene sphere (Figure 1). If the disulfide initiator was in excess, the particles of the core–shell polymer–metal nanohybrid material was synthesized as a gold nanoparticle encapsulated by a uniform polymeric coating [64].…”

“…TEM pictures of gold-polystyrene hybrid nanoparticle (molar ratio of Au NPs and disulfide initiator: ( A ) 1/100; ( B ) 1/1000; ( C ) 1/10,000; ( D ) 1/20,000. Reproduced with permission from reference [64]. …”

Preparation at the water–oil interface of Janus composite nanoparticles and their photoelectric properties

“…The AuNPs in water were synthesized as reported by Frens . An aqueous solution of HAuCl 4 (1 × 10 −4 g/mL, 25 mL) was boiled under gentle stirring.…”