title: Conjugated Polymers As Molecular Gates for Light-Controlled Release of Gold Nanoparticles.
abstract: The remote release of nano-objects from a container is a promising approach to transduce chemical events into an optical signal. The major challenge in the development of such a system involves the use of a suitable molecular gate that retains aggregated particles and releases them upon applying an external stimulus. We show proof-of-concept experiments for the release of gold nanoparticles into an aqueous solution upon photodegradation of conjugated polymer thin films. Gold nanoparticles thus transduce light-induced chemical events into an amplified optical signal with a release rate of 2.5 nM per hour, which can be readily detected by the naked eye.
authors.affiliation: †CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.|‡Oncology Area, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanromán-Iglesias
authors.affiliation: §Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai A I
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: ⊥CIC nanoGUNE Consolider, Avenida de Tolosa 76, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.|#Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chuvilin
authors.affiliation: ‡Oncology Area, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.|#Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lawrie
authors.affiliation: †CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.|#Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grzelczak
authors.affiliation: †CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.|#Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Liz-Marzán
keywords: gold nanoparticles; photodegradation; remote release; reversible self-assembly; signal amplification