Abstract
Gold-dendrimer nanocomposites were obtained for the first time by a simple colloidal approach based on the use of polyamidoamine dendrimers with succinamic acid terminal groups and dodecanediamine core. Spherical and highly crystalline nanoparticles with dimensions between 3 nm and 60 nm, and size-polydispersity depending on the synthesis conditions, have been generated. The influence of the stoichiometric ratio and the structural and architectural features of the dendrimers on the properties of the nanocomposites has been described. The self-assembling behaviour of these materials produces gold-dendrimer nanostructured porous networks with variable density, porosity, and composition. The investigations of the reaction systems, by TEM, at two postsynthesis moments, allowed to preliminary establish the control over the properties of the nanocomposite products. Furthermore, this study allowed better understanding of the mechanism of nanocomposite generation. Impressively, in the early stages of the synthesis, the organization of gold inside the dendrimer molecules has been evidenced by micrographs. Growth and ripening mechanisms further lead to nanoparticles with typical characteristics. The potential of such nanocomposite particles to induce calcification when coating a polymer substrate was also investigated.
Highlights
As we are contemplating the extraordinary scientific and technological progress, “bio-” and “nano-” became nowadays common prefixes characterizing high-tech materials and devices
Due to the longer core unit, PAMAM-SA molecules used in this work are more open structures, with larger central cages, when compared to PAMAM dendrimers used in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles by other groups
The first part of this study was devoted to the investigation of the potential of PAMAM succinamic acid (PAMAMSA) with 1,12-dodecanediamine core to induce the formation of gold nanoparticles in the absence of additional reducing
Summary
As we are contemplating the extraordinary scientific and technological progress, “bio-” and “nano-” became nowadays common prefixes characterizing high-tech materials and devices. The concept of silver- and gold-dendrimer nanocomposites is not new; it was developed approximately 17 years ago and it was based on the immobilization of preorganized metal ions in dendrimer hosts [12]. Dendrimers are well-known globular macromolecules presenting a typical tree-like architecture divergent from a central core and defined yet variable multifunctionality. They are interesting templates and reactive containers for noble metal precursors, able to initiate and direct the growth of the metallic nanometric crystals within a framework. They act as stabilizers and/or encapsulating hosts.
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