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Updated: Feb 4, 2026

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Synthesis, Characterization, and Functionalization of Hybrid Au/CdS and Au/ZnS Core/Shell Nanoparticles
Published on: March 2, 2016
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Plasmonic and colloidal stability behaviours of Au-acrylic core-shell nanoparticles with thin pH-responsive shells
Shanglin Wu1, Mingning Zhu, Qing Lian
1School of Materials, University of Manchester, MSS Tower, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. brian.saunders@manchester.ac.uk.
Nanoscale
|September 28, 2018
Summary
Researchers developed pH-responsive gold-polymer core-shell nanoparticles using precipitation polymerization. These nanoparticles show potential for intracellular pH reporting and enhanced colloidal stability.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Polymer Science
- Materials Chemistry
Background:
- Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) offers nanoscale insights.
- Existing research focuses on temperature-responsive Au-polymer core-shell NPs, with limited studies on pH-responsive systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize pH-responsive Au-polymer core-shell NPs using scalable precipitation polymerization.
- To investigate the properties and applications of these novel core-shell nanostructures.
Main Methods:
- Precipitation polymerization to create Au-copolymer core-shell NPs using methacrylic acid (MAA) or 2-carboxyethyl acrylate (CEA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate crosslinker.
- Characterization of five core-shell systems with varying shell thicknesses (less than 30 nm).
- Finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations to model LSPR properties.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of pH-responsive Au-copolymer core-shell NPs without pre-functionalization.
- LSPR properties were dependent on shell thickness and accurately simulated by FDTD.
- MAA-based NPs showed enhanced colloidal stability; CEA-based NPs exhibited reversible pH-triggered aggregation.
- CEA-based NPs demonstrated cytocompatibility with HeLa cells and potential for intracellular pH reporting.
Conclusions:
- Precipitation polymerization is an effective method for creating pH-responsive Au-polymer core-shell NPs.
- These NPs possess tunable properties and demonstrate potential for biosensing and biomedical applications, including intracellular pH monitoring.
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