Precisely Assembled Cyclic Gold Nanoparticle Frames by 2D Polymer Single‐Crystal Templating

In recent decades, extensive studies have been devoted to assembling nanoparticles (NPs) into various ordered structures to achieve novel optical properties. However, it still remains a challenging task to assemble NPs into cyclic one‐dimensional (1D) shapes, such as rings and frames. Herein, we report a directed assembly method to precisely assemble NPs into well‐defined, free‐standing frames using polymer single crystals (PSCs) as the template. Preformed poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) single crystals were used as the template to direct the crystallization of block copolymer (BCP) poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PEO‐b‐P4VP), which directs the gold NPs (AuNPs) to form AuNP frames. By controlling the PSC growth, we were able to, for the first time, precisely tune both the size and width of the AuNP frame. These novel AuNP frames topologically resemble NP nanorings and cyclic polymer chains, and show unique surface plasmon resonance (SPR) behaviors.     

Amphiphilic Janus Gold Nanoparticles Prepared by Interface‐Directed Self‐Assembly: Synthesis and Self‐Assembly

Materials with Janus structures are attractive for wide applications in materials science. Although extensive efforts in the synthesis of Janus particles have been reported, the synthesis of sub‐10 nm Janus nanoparticles is still challenging. Herein, the synthesis of Janus gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) based on interface‐directed self‐assembly is reported. Polystyrene (PS) colloidal particles with AuNPs on the surface were prepared by interface‐directed self‐assembly, and the colloidal particles were used as templates for the synthesis of Janus AuNPs. To prepare colloidal particles, thiol‐terminated polystyrene (PS‐SH) was dissolved in toluene and citrate‐stabilized AuNPs were dispersed in aqueous solution. Upon mixing the two solutions, PS‐SH chains were grafted to the surface of AuNPs and amphiphilic AuNPs were formed at the liquid–liquid interface. PS colloidal particles decorated with AuNPs on the surfaces were prepared by adding the emulsion to excess methanol. On the surface, AuNPs were partially embedded in the colloidal particles. The outer regions of the AuNPs were exposed to the solution and were functionalized through the grafting of atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator. Poly[2‐(dimethamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) on AuNPs were prepared by surface‐initiated ATRP. After centrifugation and dissolving the colloidal particles in tetrahydrofuran (THF), Janus AuNPs with PS and PDMAEMA on two hemispheres were obtained. In acidic pH, Janus AuNPs are amphiphilic and are able to emulsify oil droplets in water; in basic pH, the Janus AuNPs are hydrophobic. In mixtures of THF/methanol at a volume ratio of 1:5, the Janus AuNPs self‐assemble into bilayer structures with collapsed PS in the interiors and solvated PDMAEMA at the exteriors of the structures.     

Janus复合材料调控界面

Janus材料集成不同组成/功能于一体,具有明确的空间分区特征,是一类特殊的高分子复合功能材料.有机高分子链提供亲水/亲油及响应特性,无机组成提供丰富的光、电、磁、热等功能性.两亲性的Janus材料在高效稳定界面同时,还能赋予界面功能性并可在外场作用下实现操控.本文重点总结了不同结构和功能的Janus材料在稳定界面和调控界面的近期主要进展,包括聚集行为、固体乳化剂、界面增容、界面催化、功能涂层、细胞诊断与治疗等方面.     

Dielectrophoretic assembly of metallodielectric Janus particles in AC electric fields

"Janus" particles with two hemispheres of different polarizability or charge demonstrate a multitude of interesting effects in external electric fields. We reported earlier how particles with one metallic hemisphere and one dielectric hemisphere self-propel in low-frequency alternating current (AC) electric fields. Here, we demonstrate the assembly of such Janus particles driven by AC electric fields at frequencies above 10 kHz. We investigated the relation between field-induced dielectrophoretic force, field distribution, and structure of the assemblies. The phase space for electric field intensity and frequency was explored for particle concentrations large enough to form a monolayer on a glass surface between two gold electrodes. A rich variety of metallodielectric particle structures and dynamics were uncovered, which are very different from those obtained from directed assembly of plain dielectric or plain conductive particles under the action of fields of similar frequency and intensity. The metallodielectric particles assemble into new types of chain structures, where the metallized halves of neighboring particles align into lanes along the direction of the electric field, while the dielectric halves face in alternating direction. The staggered chains may assemble in various orientations to form different types of two-dimensional metallodielectric crystals. The experimental results on the formation of staggered chains are interpreted by means of numerical simulations of the electric energy of the system. The assembly of Janus metallodielectric particles may find applications in liquid-borne microcircuits and materials with directional electric and heat transfer.     

Ternary hybrid CuO-PMA-Ag sub-1 nm nanosheet heterostructures

Multi-component two-dimensional (2D) hybrid sub-1 nm heterostructures could potentially possess many novel properties. Controlling the site-selective distribution of nanoparticles (NPs) at the edge of 2D hybrid nanomaterial substrates is desirable but it remains a great challenge. Herein, we realized for the first time the preparation of ternary hybrid CuO-phosphomolybdic acid-Ag sub-1 nm nanosheet heterostructures (CuO-PMA-Ag THSNHs), where the Ag NPs selectively distributed at the edge of 2D hybrid CuO-PMA sub-1 nm nanosheets (SNSs). And the obtained CuO-PMA-Ag THSNHs as the catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity in alkene epoxidation. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations demonstrated that the SNSs interact with Ag NPs to form stable nanoheterostructures. This work would pave the way for the synthesis and broader applications of multi-component 2D hybrid sub-1 nm heterostructures.

Ag nanoparticles selectively distributed at the edge of CuO-PMA sub-1 nm nanosheets to form ternary hybrid CuO-PMA-Ag sub-1 nm nanosheet heterostructures, which as the catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity in alkene epoxidation.     

Bisthiol-Assisted Multilayers' Self-Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles: Synthesis,Characterization, Size Control and Electrocatalytic Applications

The layer-by-layer (LBL) approach has been utilized to self-assemble multilayers films of citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on polycrystalline gold (poly-Au) substrates. 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol (BDMT) was used as a cross linker to bind every two successive AuNPs layers. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques were employed to confirm the existence of the alternative layers of AuNPs and BDMT in the self-assembled multilayers film. The AuNPs modified poly-Au electrode showed a significant electrocatalysis towards the reduction of oxygen (a positive potential shift of about 100 mV was observed in the reduction peak potential compared to that obtained at the bare poly-Au electrode). The AuNPs tend to aggregate during their assembling to different extent which markedly depends on the substrate geometry and roughness. An effort was dedicated to understand and control the aggregation phenomenon.     

Polymer brushes grafted to "passivated" silicon substrates using click chemistry

We present herein a versatile method for grafting polymer brushes to passivated silicon surfaces based on the Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (click chemistry) of omega-azido polymers and alkynyl-functionalized silicon substrates. First, the "passivation" of the silicon substrates toward polymer adsorption was performed by the deposition of an alkyne functionalized self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Then, three tailor-made omega-azido linear brush precursors, i.e., PEG-N3, PMMA-N3, and PS-N3 (Mn approximately 20,000 g/mol), were grafted to alkyne-functionalized SAMs via click chemistry in tetrahydrofuran. The SAM, PEG, PMMA, and PS layers were characterized by ellipsometry, scanning probe microscopy, and water contact angle measurements. Results have shown that the grafting process follows the scaling laws developed for polymer brushes, with a significant dependence over the weight fraction of polymer in the grafting solution and the grafting time. The chemical nature of the brushes has only a weak influence on the click chemistry grafting reaction and morphologies observed, yielding polymer brushes with thickness of ca. 6 nm and grafting densities of ca. 0.2 chains/nm2. The examples developed herein have shown that this highly versatile and tunable approach can be extended to the grafting of a wide range of polymer (pseudo-) brushes to silicon substrates without changing the tethering strategy.     

Polymer/metal segmental Janus nanoparticles

Polymer/metal composite segmental Janus nanoparticles(NPs) are synthesized by sequential growth againstpoly(4-vinylpyridine)(P4VP) crosslinked cP4VP-PS Janus NPs. A Janus cluster of poly(4-vinylpyridine)-block-polystyrene(P4VPb-PS) diblock copolymer is self-organized after absorption onto a silica patchy sphere via hydrogen bonding. Selective crosslinking of P4VP leads to the formation of robust cP4VP-PS Janus NPs. Within the cP4VP domain, functional species such as metals are preferentially grown by in situ reduction. Other thiol-capped polymers, for example, thiol-cappedpoly(Nisopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM-SH), can be conjugated onto the opposite side to form polymer/metal triple segmental Janus NPs. The hyperthermia effect of Au NP of PNIPAM-Au@cP4VP-PS by near infrared(NIR) irradiation can trigger a fast transition from amphiphilic to hydrophobic of the Janus NPs at low surrounding temperature. De-stabilization ofthe emulsion is NIR triggered although the system temperature is below LCST(~32 °C).     

Double‐Layered Plasmonic–Magnetic Vesicles by Self‐Assembly of Janus Amphiphilic Gold–Iron(II,III) Oxide Nanoparticles

Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) offer unique features, including the precisely controlled distribution of compositions, surface charges, dipole moments, modular and combined functionalities, which enable excellent applications that are unavailable to their symmetrical counterparts. Assemblies of NPs exhibit coupled optical, electronic and magnetic properties that are different from single NPs. Herein, we report a new class of double‐layered plasmonic–magnetic vesicle assembled from Janus amphiphilic Au‐Fe₃O₄ NPs grafted with polymer brushes of different hydrophilicity on Au and Fe₃O₄ surfaces separately. Like liposomes, the vesicle shell is composed of two layers of Au‐Fe₃O₄ NPs in opposite direction, and the orientation of Au or Fe₃O₄ in the shell can be well controlled by exploiting the amphiphilic property of the two types of polymers.     

Double-Layered Plasmonic–Magnetic Vesicles by Self-Assembly of Janus Amphiphilic Gold–Iron(II,III) Oxide Nanoparticles

Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) offer unique features, including the precisely controlled distribution of compositions, surface charges, dipole moments, modular and combined functionalities, which enable excellent applications that are unavailable to their symmetrical counterparts. Assemblies of NPs exhibit coupled optical, electronic and magnetic properties that are different from single NPs. Herein, we report a new class of double-layered plasmonic–magnetic vesicle assembled from Janus amphiphilic Au-Fe₃O₄ NPs grafted with polymer brushes of different hydrophilicity on Au and Fe₃O₄ surfaces separately. Like liposomes, the vesicle shell is composed of two layers of Au-Fe₃O₄ NPs in opposite direction, and the orientation of Au or Fe₃O₄ in the shell can be well controlled by exploiting the amphiphilic property of the two types of polymers.     

Magneto‐Plasmonic Janus Vesicles for Magnetic Field‐Enhanced Photoacoustic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Tumors

Magneto‐plasmonic Janus vesicles (JVs) integrated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and magnetic NPs (MNPs) were prepared asymmetrically in the membrane for in vivo cancer imaging. The hybrid JVs were produced by coassembling a mixture of hydrophobic MNPs, free amphiphilic block copolymers (BCPs), and AuNPs tethered with amphiphilic BCPs. Depending on the size and content of NPs, the JVs acquired spherical or hemispherical shapes. Among them, hemispherical JVs containing 50 nm AuNPs and 15 nm MNPs showed a strong absorption in the near‐infrared (NIR) window and enhanced the transverse relaxation (T₂) contrast effect, as a result of the ordering and dense packing of AuNPs and MNPs in the membrane. The magneto‐plasmonic JVs were used as drug delivery vehicles, from which the release of a payload can be triggered by NIR light and the release rate can be modulated by a magnetic field. Moreover, the JVs were applied as imaging agents for in vivo bimodal photoacoustic (PA) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of tumors by intravenous injection. With an external magnetic field, the accumulation of the JVs in tumors was significantly increased, leading to a signal enhancement of approximately 2–3 times in the PA and MR imaging, compared with control groups without a magnetic field.     

One-pot aqueous phase growth of biocompatible 15-130 nm gold nanoparticles stabilized with bidentate PEG

We describe a new, single pot, aqueous phase method for synthesizing water soluble gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) over a size range of 15-130 nm. Poly(ethylene glycol)-appended thioctic acid ligands were used to control the growth rates and stabilize the AuNPs. Critical factors that enable the controlled growth of the AuNPs over this size range include the pH, the choice of reducing agent, the reaction temperature and the sequential addition of gold precursor and ligand with specific ligand-to-gold ratios. We describe the synthetic procedure in detail. Optical and structural characterization of the AuNPs was accomplished using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission and scanning electron microscopy.     

DNA-embedded Au/Ag core-shell nanoparticles

Here, we synthesized highly stable DNA-embedded Au/Ag core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) by a straightforward silver-staining of DNA-modified Au nanoparticles (AuNPs); unlike conventional DNA-surface modified NPs that present particle stability issues, DNA-embedded core-shell NPs offer an extraordinary stability with nanoscale controllability of silver shell thickness; these DNA-embedded core-shell NPs show excellent biorecognition properties and Ag shell-thickness-based optical properties, distinctively different from those of a mixture of AuNPs and AgNPs or Ag/Au alloy nanoparticles.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of single conjugated polymer nanoparticles

We demonstrate a novel and powerful method to study electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of single nanoparticles (NPs) (r = 25 +/- 15 nm) of a conjugated polymer, F8BT, on an ITO electrode in the presence of a co-reactant, such as tri-n-propylamine (TPrAH) in acetonitrile solution. The results reveal that the maximum formation rate of ECL of individual NPs is achieved after a long "build-up" time (10-40 s after pulse application). The high number of detected ECL photons from individual NPs (1500 photons during 100 s) highlights the potential of this technique as a very sensitive analytical method. Additionally, TPrAH acts as a very efficient protecting agent against irreversible electrochemical processes occurring in F8BT, as found in photoluminescence studies. This protection mechanism probably involves the neutralization of holes at the particle surface via electron transfer by both TPrAH and TPrA radical (TPrA*).     

A Robust Solution-Based Approach to Monodisperse Hybrid Janus Nanofibers

Monodisperse hybrid Janus nanofibers with the structure that one Au nanoparticle (AuNP) is connected to one end of a polymeric nanofiber were prepared by the self‐assembly between polymeric micelles and the tadpole‐like conjugates resulting from one‐to‐one complexation of long DNA chains with AuNPs.     

Cyclodextrin-functionalised gold nanoparticles via streptavidin: a supramolecular approach

Biofunctionalised nanoparticles (NPs) have received increased attention both for their potential use as drug carriers and imaging agents and for their applications in medical diagnostics. Functionalised gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) bring together their unique electronic and optical properties (including strong plasmon absorption bands and enhanced light scattering) with the specific capabilities of the functionalising biological molecule. Cyclodextrins (CDs) have been used to functionalise NPs with different approaches. CDs are able to protect from physical, chemical and enzymatic degradation drugs that are included in their cavity. In this study, we report on a new supramolecular approach for the fabrication of CD-functionalised AuNPs. Particularly, we synthesised streptavidin (SA)-coated NPs modified with biotinylated β- and γ-CD, in order to exploit the interaction with SA.     

NaBH4-induced assembly of immobilized Au nanoparticles into chainlike structures on a chemically modified glass surface

A facile method of obtaining chainlike assemblies of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on a chemically modified glass surface based on NaBH(4) treatment is developed. Citrate-stabilized AuNPs (17 nm) are immobilized on a glutaraldehyde-functionalized glass surface and assembled into chainlike structures after treatment with aqueous sodium borohydride (NaBH(4)) solution. The production and morphology of the AuNP chainlike assemblies are controlled by the density of the immobilized NPs, the concentration of NaBH(4) solution, and the treatment time. The AuNP assemblies are stable in water and can undergo drying. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic data show that the number of citrate ions on the AuNPs decreased by 43% after treatment with 5 mg/mL NaBH(4) solution. The NaBH(4)-induced partial removal of the citrate ions and the roughness of the glass surface greatly affect the binding force of AuNPs on the substrate. The immobilized AuNPs begin to move at the solid-liquid interface without desorbing when the strength of the binding force was decreased. These mobile NPs form chainlike assemblies under the driving force of van der Waals interaction and diffusion. This interface-based formation of chainlike assemblies of AuNPs may provide a simple protocol for the 1D assembly of other Au-coated colloidal nanoparticles.     

Rolling up gold nanoparticle-dressed DNA origami into three-dimensional plasmonic chiral nanostructures

Construction of three-dimensional (3D) plasmonic architectures using structural DNA nanotechnology is an emerging multidisciplinary area of research. This technology excels in controlling spatial addressability at sub-10 nm resolution, which has thus far been beyond the reach of traditional top-down techniques. In this paper, we demonstrate the realization of 3D plasmonic chiral nanostructures through programmable transformation of gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-dressed DNA origami. AuNPs were assembled along two linear chains on a two-dimensional rectangular DNA origami sheet with well-controlled positions and particle spacing. By rational rolling of the 2D origami template, the AuNPs can be automatically arranged in a helical geometry, suggesting the possibility of achieving engineerable chiral nanomaterials in the visible range.     

金纳米球/氮掺杂石墨烯量子点固载Ru(bpy)3^2+电致化学发光法检测邻苯二酚

利用还原法制得金纳米球(Au NPs),与氮掺杂石墨烯量子点(NG QDs)杂化后,再以壳聚糖胶黏剂并通过静电作用使Ru(bpy)3^2+负载于其表面形成复合膜,制备了一种新型的固相电致化学发光(ECL)传感器。研究发现,与单一材料相比,Au NPs和NG QDs杂化复合材料作为载体显著提高了发光试剂Ru(bpy)3^2+的ECL信号。根据环境污染物邻苯二酚对该修饰电极ECL信号较强的阻抑作用,建立了测定领苯二酚的新体系。结果表明,Au NPs/NG QDs/Ru(bpy)3^2+修饰电极的ECL信号变化值与邻苯二酚的浓度负对数在5.0 nmol/L^10μmol/L之间呈良好的线性关系,检出限为3.0 nmol/L(r=0.9992)。对5.0μmol/L的邻苯二酚进行10次重复测定,相对标准偏差为4.6%,常见的共存物质不干扰测定,表明该方法的选择性较好。采用该修饰电极成功测定了河水中的邻苯二酚含量。     

Use of alkaline or enzymatic sample pretreatment prior to characterization of gold nanoparticles in animal tissue by single-particle ICPMS

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in single-particle mode (spICPMS) is a promising method for the detection of metal-containing nanoparticles (NPs) and the quantification of their size and number concentration. Whereas existing studies mainly focus on NPs suspended in aqueous matrices, not much is known about the applicability of spICPMS for determination of NPs in complex matrices such as biological tissues. In the present study, alkaline and enzymatic treatments were applied to solubilize spleen samples from rats, which had been administered 60-nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) intravenously. The results showed that similar size distributions of AuNPs were obtained independent of the sample preparation method used. Furthermore, the quantitative results for AuNP mass concentration obtained with spICPMS following alkaline sample pretreatment coincided with results for total gold concentration obtained by conventional ICPMS analysis of acid-digested tissue. The recovery of AuNPs from enzymatically digested tissue, however, was approximately four times lower. Spiking experiments of blank spleen samples with AuNPs showed that the lower recovery was caused by an inferior transport efficiency of AuNPs in the presence of enzymatically digested tissue residues.