Thermosensitive polymer-modified gold nanoparticles with sensitive fluorescent properties

Abstract

Two types of thermosensitive polymer-modified gold nanoparticles (GNPs), P(DMAM-co-MADMAC)-modified GNPs (GNPs@PDM) and P(NIPAM-co-MADMAC)-modified GNPs (GNPs@PNM), are fabricated by the “grafting through” polymerization technique. The as-prepared GNPs are characterized by UV–vis, TEM, XPS, TGA, FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The thermosensitivity and fluorescence of the GNPs are investigated. It is found that all GNPs aqueous solutions but GNPs@PDM1 exhibit thermosensitivity originated from thermosensitive polymer chains and sensitive fluorescence from the dimethylaminochalcone group. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the GNPs decreases with the increasing content of MADMAC unit in the GNPs. The GNPs aqueous solution shows weak fluorescence after the temperature increases from 25°C to 45°C, or after β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is added. Furthermore, it exhibits strong fluorescence when the solvent is changed to ethanol or chloroform, and the fluorescent wavelength undergoes a blue shift from ethanol to chloroform.