title: "Nanohybrids" based on pH-responsive hydrogels and inorganic nanoparticles for drug delivery and sensor applications.
abstract: Allyl-PEG capped inorganic NPs, including magnetic iron oxide (IONPs), fluorescent CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs), and metallic gold (AuNPs of 5 and 10 nm) both individually and in combination, were covalently attached to pH-responsive poly(2-vinylpyridine-co-divinylbenzene) nanogels via a facile and robust one-step surfactant-free emulsion polymerization procedure. Control of the NPs associated to the nanogels was achieved by the late injection of the NPs to the polymerization solution at a stage when just polymeric radicals were present. Remarkably, by varying the total amount of NPs injected, the swelling behavior could be affected. Furthermore, the magnetic response as well as the optical features of the nanogels containing either IONPs or QDs could be modified. In addition, a radical quenching in case of gold nanoparticles was observed, thus affecting the final nanogel geometry.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riedinger
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pernia Leal
authors.forename: Smriti R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Deka
authors.forename: Chandramohan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Isabella R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falqui
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cingolani
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D020100:Hydrogels; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels