la9b03055_si_001.pdf (1.04 MB)
Effect of Added Surfactant on Poly(Ethylenimine)-Assisted Gold Nanoparticle Formation
journal contribution
posted on 2019-10-18, 19:03 authored by Krisztina Bali, Brigitta Dúzs, György Sáfrán, Béla Pécz, Róbert MészárosIn a variety of applications,
functionalization of gold nanoparticles
is needed to ensure adequate surface charge and hydrophobicity for
their biodistribution, interparticle interactions, or self-organization.
In the present paper, we provide an economic way for the synthesis
of hydrophobized poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) capped gold nanoparticles
at room temperature using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The approach
is based on the controlled competition between the nucleation of gold
nanophases within the PEI molecules and the SDS binding onto their
amine groups. This can be achieved via utilizing the strongly irreversible
nature of the association between the oppositely charged polymer and
that of the surfactant molecules. Specifically, by varying the order
and timing of SDS addition during the process of gold nanoassembly
formation, the size distribution, the morphology, and the local hydrophobic
environment of the produced Au-PEI/SDS nanohybrids can be tuned even
at one composition of the system. The results may be further exploited
for the preparation of noble metal nanoassemblies with controlled
hydrophobicity and charge.