Multifunctional inorganic/organic hybrid microgels

Abstract

This review summarizes recent research dedicated to hybrid colloids combining inorganic nanoparticles and cross-linked polymer networks. We discuss aspects of synthesis, characterization, and application of systems with different morphologies and properties. Due to the large number of works in the field of composite materials, we focus on materials with responsive polymer components, which are dispersed in aqueous media.

Influence of Temperature on the Colloidal Stability of Polymer‐Coated Gold Nanoparticles in Cell Culture Media

“…There is a large toolbox of responsive polymers available, which are able to change their properties in solution with pH, ionic strength, redox potential, temperature, etc . If such polymers are used to coat NPs the resulting hybrid core/(polymer‐)shell NPs can show multifunctional properties, i.e., stimuli response due to the polymer shell and optical, magnetic, and/or catalytic properties due to the core …”

“…Temperature is another convenient external trigger. In recent years it has been shown that inorganic NPs such as silica, gold, and silver, can be successfully coated by thermoresponsive polymers , . Most often cross‐linked poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) is used for the encapsulation of inorganic NPs by a thermoresponsive polymer material.…”

“…[5][6][7][8][9][10] If such polymers are used to coat NPs the resulting hybrid core/ (polymer-)shell NPs can show multifunctional properties, i.e., stimuli response due to the polymer shell and optical, magnetic, and/or catalytic properties due to the core. [11][12][13][14] One typically targeted response is shrinking/swelling or assembly/disassembly of the NPs. [ 15,16 ] These concepts have been demonstrated for externally controlled release of drugs, which are embedded into such responsive NPs.…”

Amphiphilic polymer-Ag composite microgels with tunable catalytic activity and selectivity

“…Owing to the mobility of polymer chains in the surface region and at the interface of the polymer-medium phases, reorientation and rearrangement of macromolecular fragments occur as the environment changes [13][14][15][16][17]. Based on these principles, polymer microgels have been proven to be excellent materials for the immobilization and stabilization of catalysts [18][19][20][21][22][23]. Polymer microgels combine the characteristics of a linear macromolecule and a three-dimensional network, and because of this unique property, these materials have been widely used in the immobilization of MNPs.…”

Preparation, Structure, and Properties of Hybrid Polymer Composites Containing Silver Clusters and Nanoparticles

“…Special attention is given to the stability of the nanodispersed components due to interaction between the nanophase and various stabilizers [6]. The interest in silver-containing hybrid polymer composite materials, including nanocomposites, which, by their very nature, are a priori hybrid systems, is attributed to a set of properties of the matrix itself, which often possesses hybrid structure, properties of silver in ionic and nanodispersed forms, and new properties related to the appearance of hybrid silver-polymer structures [7,8]. Special interest is presently found in bionanocomposites derived from biopolymers and silver nanoparticles (SN), which display specific physicochemical properties, in particular, electrochemical, photochemical, and catalytic properties highly dependent on the dimensions and polydispersion of the nanophase [9, 10] as well as biological activity due to the ionization of the metal atoms in the presence of H 2 O/O 2 and the interaction between the SN surface and functional groups of the various biomolecules [11].…”