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Updated: Sep 21, 2025
Synthesis of Stimuli-responsive Nanogels using Aqueous One-step Crosslinking and Co-nanopolymerization
Published on: January 24, 2025
Simple Method for Tuning the Optical Properties of Thermoresponsive Plasmonic Nanogels
Fei Han1, Alexander H Soeriyadi2, S R C Vivekchand3
1School of Chemistry, ‡Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, and §ARC Center of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
Abstract:
We report a straightforward way for forming and tuning the optical properties of thermally responsive plasmonic nanogels. Upon functionalization, a small red shift (2-3 nm) of the pNIPAM@AuNPs was observed due to changes in the refractive index surrounding the AuNP. By adding thermoresponsive poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM) into the pNIPAM@AuNP, its optical response was significantly increased. Heating the nanogel such that the pNIPAM collapsed and acted as a cross-link resulted in the aggregation of the AuNPs. The plasmonic response with red shifts of up to 20 nm was observed. The enlarged red shift was due to the increase in the dielectric constant around the particles and the interparticle interaction of the AuNPs. The interparticle interaction also leads to the broadening of the spectra. Experimental data and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculation are in agreement with this observation. The temperature-dependent optical properties were reversible through multiple cycles of heating and cooling.
