Abstract
Colloidal gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have been used in several biological applications, which include the exploitation of size- and shape-dependent Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) in biosensing devices. In order to obtain functional and stable Au NPs in a physiological medium, surface modification and functionalization are crucial steps in these endeavors. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization meets this need offering the possibility of control over the composition and architecture of polymeric shells coating Au NPs. Furthermore, playing with a careful choice of monomers, RAFT polymerization allows the possibility to design a polymer shell with the desired functional groups aiming at Au based nanocomposites suitable for biorecognition and biotargeting. This review provides important aspects concerning the synthesis and optical properties of Au NPs as well as concepts of RAFT polymerization. Understanding these concepts is crucial to appreciate the chemical strategies available towards RAFT-polymer coated Au core-shell nanostructures, which are here reviewed. Finally, examples of applications in opto-biodetection devices are provided and the potential of responsive “smart” nanomaterials based on such structures can be applied to other biological applications.
Highlights
The optical properties of colloidal gold nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely explored in diverse applications and in certain cases associated to polymer coatings
This review explores the plasmonic properties of Au NPs aiming at the development of sensing platforms for biodetection, focusing on the surface functionalization of Au NPs using polymers prepared via Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization
The third part of this review concerns the use of RAFT to prepare polymer coated Au NPs as optical biosensors and eventual multifunctionality in theranostic methods applied for example in cancer therapy
Summary
The optical properties of colloidal gold nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely explored in diverse applications and in certain cases associated to polymer coatings. Very often, such hybrid polymer/gold nanostructures comprise Au cores decorated with polymer shells. While the Au NPs are thought to provide optical response due to their plasmonic behavior, the resulting polymer coatings might confer robustness, stability, functionality, responsiveness and biocompatibility, to the final nanocomposite (Figure 1). These potential benefits demand judicious control over the morphological properties of the.
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