title: Multi-responsive hybrid particles: thermo-, pH-, photo-, and magneto-responsive magnetic hydrogel cores with gold nanorod optical triggers.
abstract: The research strategy described in this manuscript harnesses the attractive properties of hydrogels, gold nanorods (Aurods), and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) by synthesizing one unique multi-responsive nanostructure. This novel hybrid structure consists of silica-coated magnetic particles encapsulated within a thermo-responsive P(NIPAM-co-AA) hydrogel network on which Aurods are assembled. Furthermore, this research demonstrates that these composite particles respond to several forms of external stimuli (temperature, pH, light, and/or applied magnetic field) owing to their specific architecture. Exposure of the hybrid particles to external stimuli led to a systematic and reversible variation in the hydrodynamic diameter (swelling-deswelling) and thus in the optical properties of the hybrid particles (red-shifting of the plasmon band). Such stimuli-responsive volume changes can be effectively exploited in drug-delivery applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, USA. trlee@uh.edu.
authors.forename: Supparesk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rittikulsittichai
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, USA. trlee@uh.edu.
authors.forename: Arati G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kolhatkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, USA.
authors.forename: Subhasis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarangi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, USA.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vorontsova
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, USA.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Vekilov
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, USA.
authors.forename: Audrius
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brazdeikis
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-5003, USA. trlee@uh.edu.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Randall Lee