Amphiphilic Mixed-Shell Polymeric Nanoparticles:Efficient Synthesis and Use as Template for Preparing Gold Nanoclusters

Amphiphilic mixedshell polymeric nanoparticles(MSNPs) were synthesized efficiently by non-covalently-cross-linking of two diblock copolymers(1∶1 mass ratio) of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylic acid)(PEO-b-PAA) and poly(2-vinylnaphthalene)-b-poly-(acrylic acid)(P2VN-b-PAA) with 1,2-propane diamine(PDA) in DMF. In such amphiphilic MSNPs, the shell consisted of poly-(2-vinyl naphthalene)(P2VN)/polyethylene oxide(PEO) while the core was formed from noncovalently cross-linked poly(acrylic acid)(PAA). The MSNPs could disperse in water and DMF without coalescence due to their distinct amphiphilic nature. The flexible cores of MSNPs were confirmed by SEM and FTIR. Dynamic light scattering result showed that the diameter of the amphiphlic MSNP was about 300 nm. The shells of the MSNPs could collapse in solid state resulted in their flexible cores. The MSNPs could be used as template for preparing gold nanoclusters in water.