title: Pluronics-stabilized gold nanoparticles: investigation of the structure of the polymer-particle hybrid.
abstract: Hybrid gold-polymer nanoparticles are obtained by self-assembly of amphiphilic copolymers (Pluronics) in solutions containing preformed gold nanoparticles (diameter ca. 12 nm). Dynamic light scattering, TEM, cryo-TEM, and small-angle neutron scattering experiments with contrast variation are used to characterize the structure of the gold-polymer particles. Five Pluronics (F127, F68, F88, F108, P84) with different molecular weights and hydrophilic/hydrophobic balances are investigated. Gold nanoparticles are individually embedded within globules of polymer, even under conditions for which Pluronics micelles do not form in solution. The hybrid particles are several tens of nanometers in size (larger than micelles of the corresponding Pluronics), and the size can be tuned by changing the temperature.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des IMRCP, CNRS UMR 5623, Université de Toulouse, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rahme
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oberdisse
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schweins
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaillard
authors.forename: Jean-Daniel
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Marty
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mingotaud
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gauffre
mesh_terms: D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008027:Light; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010316:Particle Size; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions; D020442:Poloxamer; D006046:Gold