紫外光辐照法制备金纳米盘及其反应机理

用紫外光辐照氯金酸、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)和纳米金种子的混合溶液, 在室温下用30 min制备出尺度小于100 nm的截角三角形或六边形金纳米盘. X射线能谱和衍射分析表明粒子是以{111}面为盘状面的高纯面心立方金单晶, 红外透射光谱表明金粒子与PVP之间存在作用. 产物的可见吸收光谱表现出纳米盘的各向异性表面等离子体共振吸收峰. 不同实验条件下产物的吸收光谱分析表明: PVP起还原剂和包覆剂的作用; 高强度紫外光加速了反应进行; 种子对反应具有催化作用; 种子的加入量有最佳值, 在该值下纳米盘平均尺度最大(达80 nm), 吸收谱上的面内偶极共振峰位于950 nm处; 种子的加入量超过该值时, 纳米盘尺度变小, 面内偶极共振峰发生蓝移.     

Optimization of high-yield biological synthesis of single-crystalline gold nanoplates

In this work, single-crystalline gold nanoplates were obtained by reducing aqueous chloroauric acid solution with the extract of Sargassum sp. (brown seaweed) at room temperature. The gold nanoplates so obtained were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The formation of gold nanoplates was found to depend on a number of environmental factors, such as the time taken to age the seaweed extract, pH of the reaction medium, reaction temperature, reaction time, and initial reactant concentrations. The size of the gold nanoplates could be controlled to between 200 and 800 nm by manipulating the initial reactant concentrations. The yield of the flat gold nanocrystals relative to the total number of nanoparticles formed was as high as approximately 80-90%.     

Formation of gold@polymer core-shell particles and gold particle clusters on a template of thermoresponsive and pH-responsive coordination triblock copolymer

Template synthesis of various morphological gold colloidal nanoparticles using a thermoresponsive and pH-responsive coordination triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) is studied. The template morphology of the thermoresponsive and pH-responsive coordination triblock copolymer, which can be tuned by simply changing the pH or temperature of the triblock copolymer aqueous solution, ranges from single chains to core-corona micelles and further to micellar clusters. Various morphological gold colloidal nanoparticles such as discrete gold nanoparticles, gold@polymer core-shell nanoparticles, and gold nanoparticle clusters are synthesized on the corresponding template of the triblock copolymer by first coordination with gold ions and then reduction by NaBH4. All three resultant gold colloidal nanoparticles are stable in aqueous solution, and their sizes are 2, 10, and 7 nm, respectively. The gold@polymer core-shell nanoparticles are thermoresponsive. The gold nanoparticle cluster has a novel structure, and each one holds about 40 single gold nanoparticles.     

Effect of hydrophobicity inside PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer micelles on the stabilization of gold nanoparticles: experiments

In this paper we present the effect of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer micelles and their hydrophobicity on the stabilization of gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles were prepared by a method developed by Sakai et al. (Sakai, T.; Alexandridis, P. Langmuir 2004, 20, 8426). An absorption centered at 300-400 nm in time-dependent UV spectra provided evidence that the very first step of the synthesis was to form primary gold clusters. Then the gold clusters grew in size and were stabilized by block copolymer micelles. The stabilization capacities of the micelles were modulated by tuning the block copolymer concentration and composition and by adding salts. With good stabilization, gold particles were spherical and uniform in size with a diameter of 5-10 nm. Otherwise they were aggregates with irregular shapes such as triangular, hexagonal, and rodlike. The presence of a small amount of NaF significantly increased the stabilization capacity of the micelles and consequently modified the quality of the gold particles. Using FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy, micellization of the block copolymers and hydrophobicity of the micelles were proven very important for the stabilization. A higher hydrophobicity of the micelle cores was expected to favor the entrapment of primary gold clusters and the stabilization of gold nanoparticles.     

Organic dye molecules as reducing agent for the synthesis of electroactive gold nanoplates

Highly crystalline, hexagonal and triangular nanoplates of gold are synthesized in high yield by a new wet chemical method using multifunctional molecules, Bismarck brown R (BBR) and Bismarck brown Y (BBY). This method involves a simple approach by keeping a mixture of aqueous HAuCl4 solution and BBR/BBY solution in presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) for 24 h. These nanostructures show unprecedented electrochemical properties exhibiting surface confinement effect. The UV-visible (UV-vis) spectrum shows certain distinct features with absorptions at 300, 400, and 650 nm extending up to the near infrared region. Selected area electron diffraction patterns of these nanoparticles show highly oriented (111) crystal facets. X-ray diffraction analysis also confirms the predominant orientation in the (111) crystal planes with lattice constant approximately 4.07 angstroms of face-centered-cubic (fcc) gold. X-ray photoelectron (XP) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis shows the presence of a fraction of reducing molecules as surface passivating agent either in the unreacted molecular state or as a mixture of reacted and unreacted product, which probably undergoes charge transfer with gold nanocrystals giving absorption at approximately 300 nm.     

Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of monodisperse single-crystalline silver nanoplates and gold nanorings

A simple sonochemical route was developed for the crystal growth of uniform silver nanoplates and ringlike gold nanocrystals in a N,N-dimethylformamide solution. The platelike structures were generated from the selective growth on different crystal planes in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and the ultrasonic-assisted Ostwald ripening processes. The silver nanoplates in solution served as the templates for the synthesis of ringlike gold crystals via a displacement reaction. Both the silver nanoplates and gold nanorings were highly oriented single crystals with (111) planes as the basal planes.     

Spiky gold nanoshells

We report a high-yield synthetic method for a new type of metal nanostructure, spiky gold nanoshells, which combine the morphological characteristics of hollow metal nanoshells and nanorods. Our method utilizes block copolymer assemblies and polymer beads as templates for the growth of spiky nanoshells. Various shapes of spiky metal nanoshells were prepared in addition to spherical nanoshells by using block copolymer assemblies such as rod-like micelles, vesicles, and bilayers as templates. Furthermore, spiky gold shells encapsulating magnetic nanoparticles or quantum dots were prepared based on the ability of block copolymers to self-assemble with various types of nanoparticles and molecules. The capability to encapsulate other materials in the core, the shape tunability, and the highly structured surface of spiky nanoshells should benefit a range of imaging, sensing, and medical applications of metal nanostructures.     

Multicomponent nanoparticles via self-assembly with cross-linked block copolymer surfactants

We describe a simple and versatile protocol to prepare water-soluble multifunctional nanostructures by encapsulation of different nanoparticles in shell cross-linked, block copolymer micelles. This method permits simultaneous incorporation of different nanoparticle properties within a nanoscale micellar container. We have demonstrated the co-encapsulation of magnetic (gamma-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4), semiconductor (CdSe/ZnS), and metal (Au) nanoparticles in different combinations to form multicomponent micelles that retain the precursor particles' distinct properties. Because these multifunctional hybrid nanostructures spontaneously assemble from solution by simultaneous desolvation of nanoparticles and amphiphilic block copolymer components, we anticipate that this can be used as a general protocol for preparing multifunctional nanostructures without explicit multimaterial synthesis or surface functionalization of nanoparticles.     

Coassembly of Metal and Titanium Dioxide Nanocrystals Directed by Monolayered Block Copolymer Inverse Micelles for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

Functional nanostructures of self‐assembled block copolymers (BCPs) incorporated with various inorganic nanomaterials have received considerable attention on account of their many potential applications. Here we demonstrate the two‐dimensional self‐assembly of anisotropic titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanocrystals (NCs) and metal nanoparticles (NPs) directed by monolayered poly(styrene)‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) copolymer inverse micelles. The independent position‐selective assembly of TiO₂ NCs and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) preferentially in the intermicelle corona regions and the core of micelles, respectively, for instance, was accomplished by spin‐coating a mixture solution of PS‐b‐P4VP and ex situ synthesized TiO₂ NCs, followed by the reduction of Ag salts coordinated in the cores of micelles into AgNPs. Hydrophobic TiO₂ NCs with a diameter and length of approximately 3 nm and 20–30 nm, respectively, were preferentially sequestered in the intermicelle nonpolar PS corona regions energetically favorable with the minimum entropic packing penalty. Subsequent high‐temperature annealing at 550 °C not only effectively removed the block copolymer but also transformed the TiO₂ NCs into connected nanoparticles, thus leading to a two‐dimensionally ordered TiO₂ network in which AgNPs were also self‐organized. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the AgNP‐decorated TiO₂ networks by approximately 27 and 44 % over that of Ag‐free TiO₂ networks and randomly deposited TiO₂ nanoparticles, respectively, was confirmed by the UV degradation property of methylene blue.     

Gold nanoparticle‐incorporated core and shell crosslinked micelles fabricated from thermoresponsive block copolymer of N‐isopropylacrylamide and a novel primary‐amine containing monomer

A novel primary amine‐containing monomer, 1‐(3′‐aminopropyl)‐4‐acrylamido‐1,2,3‐triazole hydrochloride (APAT), was prepared from N‐propargylacrylamide and 3‐azidopropylamine hydrochloride via copper‐catalyzed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition (click reaction). Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐poly(1‐(3′‐aminopropyl)‐4‐acrylamido‐1,2,3‐triazole hydrochloride), PNIPAM‐b‐PAPAT, was then synthesized via consecutive reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerizations of N‐isopropylacrylamide and APAT. In aqueous solution, the obtained thermoresponsive double hydrophilic block copolymer dissolves molecularly at room temperature and self‐assembles into micelles with PNIPAM cores and PAPAT shells at elevated temperature. Because of the presence of highly reactive primary amine moieties in PAPAT block, two types of covalently stabilized nanoparticles namely core crosslinked and shell crosslinked micelles with ‘inverted’ core‐shell nanostructures were facilely prepared upon the addition of glutaric dialdehyde at 25 and 50 °C, respectively. In addition, the obtained structure‐fixed micelles were incorporated with gold nanoparticles via in situ reduction of preferentially loaded HAuCl₄. High resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that gold nanoparticles can be selectively loaded into the crosslinked cores or shells, depending on the micelle templates employed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6518–6531, 2008     

Self-assembled micellar nanoparticles of a novel star copolymer for thermo and pH dual-responsive drug release

An amphiphilic star block copolymer comprised of a hydrophobic PMMA block and a hydrophilic tri-arm poly(NIPAAm-co-DMAEMA) block was synthesized by copolymerization of NIPAAm and DMAEMA, with Ce(4+) ions and tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamine as a redox initiatory system. The star copolymer undergoes self-assembly to the micellar nanoparticles with a core-shell structure and the thermo/pH dual-response, originated from the thermo-sensitivity of PNIPAAm and the pH-sensitivity of PDMAEMA. A fluorescence probe study showed the pH-dependent low CMCs (7.5 to 11.2 mg/L) of the micelles, confirming the formation of stable micelles. Morphological investigations showed that the blank and drug-loaded micelles both had spherical and uniform shapes. The sizes of the blank and drug-loaded nanoparticles were between 80 and 120 nm, depending on the given pH. The LCSTs of the star copolymer were determined to be 32 degrees C, 36.6 degrees C and 39.5 degrees C, corresponding to pH 5, pH 7.4 and pH 9, respectively, demonstrating a pH-dependent thermo-response. As a drug delivery, the micellar nanoparticles showed the dual-responsive release profiles in vitro, which were confirmed by the drug release studies. The obtained results showed the thermo-triggered accelerated release at pH 7.4, and the pH-triggered accelerated release at 37 degrees C, indicating the micelles nanoparticles would be a promising site-specific drug delivery for enhancing the accumulation of drug in targeting pathological areas.     

Facile Synthesis of Multi-Branched Gold Nanostructures through a TBAB-Assisted Route in Aqueous Solution and Their SERS Property

Facile synthesis of multi‐branched gold nanostructures by using the tetrabutyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) as a capping agent is described. The reaction is carried out in a one‐step process at mild temperature. Gold nanostructures with more than six sharp branches ranging from 70 to 130 nm in length are synthesized in high yield. It is proposed that the relative weak adsorption capacity of TBAB leads to the incompletely covered gold surface and the growth of nanoparticles occurs on the uncovered gold surface, and therefore short branches appear consequently. Then positively charged TBAB layers on the gold surfaces prevent the branches from aggregating with each other which stimulates the branch growth. The prepared branched gold nanoparticles show efficient surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties. Low temperature (4°C) is unfavorable to the formation of multi‐branched gold nanostructures, and only thin small irregular plate‐like nanoparticles are produced. The addition of SDS in TBAB aqueous solution results in forming SDS micelles at much lower concentration of SDS (0.4 mmol/L) as compared to that in pure water, and short branched gold nanoparticles are obtained in the SDS‐TBAB system.     

Shape-controlled synthesis of gold icosahedra and nanoplates using Pluronic P123 block copolymer and sodium chloride

Gold icosahedra with an average diameter of about 600 nm were easily prepared by heating an aqueous solution of the amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)₂₀-poly(propylene oxide)₇₀-poly(ethylene oxide)₂₀ (Pluronic P123), and hydrogen tetrachloroaurate(III) trihydrate (HAuCl₄·3H₂O) at 60 °C for 25 min. When sodium chloride (NaCl:HAuCl₄ molar ratio=10:1) was added to this aqueous solution, gold nanoplates were produced. The chloride ion was found to be a key component in the formation of the gold nanoplates by facilitating the growth of {111} oriented hexagonal/triangular gold nanoplates, because similar gold nanoplates were produced when LiCl or KCl was added to the aqueous solution instead of NaCl, while gold nanocrystals having irregular shapes were produced when NaBr or NaI was added.     

Structural effects of amphiphilic block copolymers on the gold nanoplates synthesis. Experimental and theoretical study

Geometric and multi-arms gold nanoplates were synthesized by direct reaction between two different amphiphilic block copolymers and KAuCl₄ in aqueous solution. Amphiphilic copolymers containing blocks of ε-caprolactone and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone were used. The block copolymer structures and concentration play a key role on the morphology and size of gold nanoparticles. Copolymers have a dual function as reductant and stabilizer agent. The gold nanoparticles obtained were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). On the other hand, electronic structure calculations, based on density functional theory were performed to support the experimental results. The simple models built with small clusters of gold and co-monomer units provide planar structures complexes with higher stabilization energies. These results agree with the nanoplates obtained experimentally. Moreover, the reactivity analysis based on monoelectronic properties suggests that the formation of aggregates between complexes is favored.     

Thermosensitive pluronic micelles stabilized by shell cross-linking with gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles were employed to prepare shell cross-linked Pluronic micelles that exhibit a reversibly thermosensitive swelling/shrinking behavior. Two terminal hydroxyl groups of Pluronic F127 were thiol-functionalized to form self-assembling Pluronic micelles in aqueous solution with exposed -SH groups in an outer shell layer. The thiol groups present in the outer shell were cross-linked by gold nanoparticles synthesized through NaBH4 reduction of gold precursor anions. The resultant shell cross-linked gold-Pluronic micelles exhibited a temperature-dependent volume transition: their hydrodynamic diameter was changed from 157.1 +/- 15.6 nm at 15 degrees C to 53.4 +/- 5.5 nm at 37 degrees C as determined by dynamic light scattering. The critical micelle temperature measured by a pyrene solubilization technique suggested that the reversible swelling/shrinking behavior of the micelles was caused by hydrophobic interactions of cross-linked or grafted Pluronic copolymer chains in the micelle structure with increasing temperature. Transmission electron microscopy directly revealed that the shell cross-linked micelles were indeed produced by gold nanoparticles covalently clustered on the surface. These novel self-assembled organic/inorganic hybrid micelles would hold great potential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.     

Self-assembly in mixed aqueous solutions of amphiphilic block copolymers and vesicle-forming surfactant

The self-assembly behavior of mixed solutions consisting of poly(isoprene-b-ethylene oxide) (IEO) copolymer micelles and vesicle-forming didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) was investigated. Dynamic light scattering indicated the presence of two populations of nanoassemblies in the solutions. By aid of atomic force microscopy, the larger ones were identified as block copolymer modified surfactant vesicles (BCMSVs) and the smaller ones as surfactant-modified block copolymer micelles (SMBCMs). This identification is based on the amphiphilic character of the low and high molecular weight molecules and the notion that exchange of unimers of both types can take place between the initial nanoassemblies in aqueous solution. Electrophoretic light scattering experiments showed that the nanostructures carry positive charges originating from the surfactant. The sizes of the nanoassemblies depend on the relative concentrations of both components. The behavior of the mixed systems was also found to depend on block copolymer composition and temperature. Nanoassemblies of smaller sizes were formed at higher temperatures. BCMSVs and SMBCMs are thermosensitive, in contrast to the temperature stability of pure block copolymer micelles. On the other hand, BCMSVs showed lesser sensitivity to temperature increase compared to the pure DDAB vesicles. This indicates that incorporation of macromolecules into the DDAB bilayer increases the stability of the vesicles.     

Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles by the self-assembly of micellar poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) block copolymer

A study is presented of the preparation of gold nanoparticles incorporated into biodegradable micelles. Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) copolymer was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization, and the hydroxyl end group of the PCL block was modified with thioctic acid using dicyclohexyl carbodiimide as the coupling reagent. The PEO-b-PCL-thioctate ester (TE) thus obtained was used in a later step to form monolayer protected gold nanoparticles via the thioctate spacer. Gold nanoparticles stabilized with the PEO-b-PCL block (named Au/Block (x/y), where x/y is the mole feed ratio between HAuCl4 and PEO-b-PCL-TE) were prepared and analyzed. Au/Block (1/1), Au/Block (2/1), and Au/Block (3/1) nanoparticles were found to form stable dispersions in the organic solvents commonly used to dissolve the unlabeled block copolymer. The average diameter of the nanoparticles was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and found to be 6+/-2 nm. Au/Block (4/1) nanoparticle dispersions in organic solvents, on the other hand, were not stable and produced large gold clusters (50-100 nm). Cluster formation was attributed to the low grafting density of the block copolymer, which facilitates agglomeration. For Au/Block (12/1), along the same trend, only an insoluble product was isolated. Micelles in water were prepared by the slow addition of the dilute Au/Block solution in dimethylformamide into a large excess of water with vigorous stirring. Au/Block (1/1) and Au/Block (2/1) formed nanosized structures of 5-7 nm. TEM images of stained Au/Block (1/1) micelles, made in water, clearly showed the formation of core-shell structures. Au/Block (3/1) micelles, on the other hand, were not stable and large agglomerates a few microns in size were observed. The study focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and aggregation behavior of gold-loaded PEO-b-PCL block copolymer micelles, a potential system for drug delivery in conjunction with tissue and subcellular localization studies.     

Dissipative particle dynamics simulation of gold nanoparticles stabilization by PEO–PPO–PEO block copolymer micelles

Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) was used to simulate the formation and stabilization of gold nanoparticles in poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO–PPO–PEO) block copolymer micelles. Primary gold clusters that were experimentally observed in the early stage of gold nanoparticle formation were modeled as gold bead in DPD simulation. It showed that gold beads were wrapped by the block copolymer and aggregated into spherical particles inside the micelles and forming stable Pluronic–gold colloids with two-layer structures. Increasing Pluronic concentration, molecular weight, and PPO block length led to the formation of more uniform and more stable gold nanoparticles. Density profiles of water beads suggested that the micelles, especially the hydrophobicity of the micellar cores, played an important role in stabilizing gold nanoparticles. Dynamic process indicated that the formation of gold nanoparticles was controlled by the competition between aggregation of primary gold clusters and the stabilization by micelles of block copolymers.. The DPD simulation results of gold–copolymer–water system agree well with previous experiments, while more structure information on microscopic level could be provided.     

Transmission electron microscopy characterization of colloidal copper nanoparticles and their chemical reactivity

A colloidal synthesis method was developed to produce face centered cubic (fcc) Cu nanoparticles in the presence of surfactants in an organic solvent under an Ar environment. Various synthetic conditions were explored to control the size of the as-prepared nanoparticles by changing the precursor, varying the amount of surfactants, and tuning the reaction temperature. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction, and high-resolution TEM were used as the main characterization tools. Upon exposure to air, these nanoparticles are oxidized at different levels depending on their sizes: (1) an inhomogeneous layer of fcc Cu₂O forms at the surface of Cu nanoparticles (about 30 nm); (2) Cu nanoparticles (about 5 nm) are immediately oxidized into fcc Cu₂O nanoparticles (about 6 nm). The occurrence of these different levels of oxidization demonstrates the reactive nature of Cu nanoparticles and the effect of size on their reactivity. Furthermore, utilization of their chemical reactivity and conversion of spherical Cu nanoparticles into CuS nanoplates through the nanoscale Kirkendall effect were demonstrated. The oxidization and sulfidation of Cu nanoparticles were compared. Different diffusion and growth behaviors were involved in these two chemical transformations, resulting in the formation of isotropic Cu₂O nanoparticles during oxidization and anisotropic CuS nanoplates during sulfidation.      

Micrometer-long gold nanowires fabricated using block copolymer templates

Micrometer-long gold nanowires were fabricated via self-assembly. Diblock copolymer films served as templates for the selective adsorption of 10 nm gold nanoparticles from solution to form well-defined nanostructures. An oxygen plasma treatment induced aggregation of the nanoparticles and the formation of continuous gold nanostructures. The electrical continuity of the nanostructures was observed using scanning electron microscopy.