title: Formation of gold nanoparticles in microreactor composed of helical peptide assembly in water.
abstract: A novel microreactor was prepared by self-assembly of an amphiphilic block copolymer composed of a hydrophobic helical peptide unit with a naphthyl group at the C terminal and a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) unit. The copolymer formed a self-assembly in water, taking a vesicular structure. Noticeably, when the copolymer was dispersed in an Au(3+) aqueous solution, gold nanoparticles were formed without addition of any reducing reagent. The naphthyl groups, which are located at the inner surface of the vesicular assembly, promoted the reduction of Au(3+) ions with accompanying pH decrease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-Daigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Shunsaku
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D002412:Cations; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008904:Miniaturization; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D009281:Naphthalenes; D010455:Peptides; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006046:Gold