Poly(ferrocenylsilane) electrolytes as a gold nanoparticle foundry: “two-in-one” redox synthesis and electrosteric stabilization, and sensing applications

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated with responsive polymers gained considerable interest due to their controllable size, good stability, and fast environmental response suitable for biological applications and sensing. Here we report on a simple and efficient method for the synthesis of stable and redox responsive AuNPs using organometallic polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions of HAuCl. In the redox reaction, positively or negatively charged poly(ferrocenylsilanes) (PFS/PFS) served as reducing agents, and also as stabilizing polymers. Due to their unique tunable electrostatic and electrosteric protection, AuNPs coated with PFS, (PFS)@AuNPs, possess high redox sensitivity, with reversible, repetitive, sustainable color switching between the assembled (purple color) and disassembled (red color) states as evidenced by UV-Vis absorption and TEM measurements. Feasibility studies reported here indicate that the particles described can be applied as a colorimetric probe for the detection of redox molecules, e.g. vitamin C, in a controlled and facile manner.

Development of Blood‐Cell‐Selective Fluorescent Biodots for Lysis‐Free Leukocyte Imaging and Differential Counting in Whole Blood

“…Our previous study on the rational design of amino acid‐derived biodots has revealed that serine (Ser) and threonine (Thr) dots possess inherent biocompatibility with high fluorescence quantum yields (QYs) . Polymers have been used as stabilizers or shape‐controlling agents in nanoparticle synthesis . In this work, we investigate the effect of differently charged polymers on the properties of the resulted biodots.…”

Metal Nanoparticle Foundry with Redox Responsive Hydrogels

“…The redox activity of the PFS chain could be used to prepare metal nanoparticles in a facile in situ manner without using external reducing agents or organic solvents . The synthesis of NPs was carried out by immersion of a piece of hydrogel in a solution of metal ions.…”

Recent Trends in Metallopolymer Design: Redox‐Controlled Surfaces, Porous Membranes, and Switchable Optical Materials Using Ferrocene‐Containing Polymers

“…[120] Reproducedw ith permissionfrom Ref. [120].Copyright 2017, Royal SocietyofC hemistry. [121] Reproduced with permission from Ref.…”

“…Song et al reported the preparation of PFS-based polyelectrolytesf or the decoration of gold nanoparticles (PFS@AuNPs). [120] The PFS polyionsw eree ither positively or negativelyc harged, and used as polymer reducing ands tabilization reagents. The redox-responsiveness of the PFS immobilized at the surfaceo ft he AuNPs revealed localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) nanostructures provided access to switchable color tuning ( Figure 6).…”