Aerogelation of Polymer-Coated Photoluminescent, Plasmonic, and Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biosensing Applications

verfasst von

Laura Altenschmidt, Sara Sánchez-Paradinas, Franziska Lübkemann, Dániel Zámbó, Abuelmagd M. Abdelmonem, Henrik Bradtmüller, Atif Masood, Irene Morales, Patricia de la Presa, Alexander Knebel, Miguel Angel García García-Tuñón, Beatriz Pelaz, Karen D.J. Hindricks, Peter Behrens, Wolfgang J. Parak, Nadja C. Bigall

Abstract

Macroscopic materials with nanoscopic properties have recently been synthesized by self-assembling defined nanoparticles to form self-supported networks, so-called aerogels. Motivated by the promising properties of this class of materials, the search for versatile routes toward the controlled assembly of presynthesized nanoparticles into such ultralight macroscopic materials has become a great interest. Overcoating procedures of colloidal nanoparticles with polymers offer versatile means to produce aerogels from nanoparticles, regardless of their size, shape, or properties while retaining their original characteristics. Herein, we report on the surface modification and assembly of various building blocks: photoluminescent nanorods, magnetic nanospheres, and plasmonic nanocubes with particle sizes between 5 and 40 nm. The polymer employed for the coating was poly(isobutylene-alt-maleic anhydride) modified with 1-dodecylamine side chains. The amphiphilic character of the polymer facilitates the stability of the nanocrystals in aqueous media. Hydrogels are prepared via triggering the colloidally stable solutions, with aqueous cations acting as linkers between the functional groups of the polymer shell. Upon supercritical drying, the hydrogels are successfully converted into macroscopic aerogels with highly porous, open structure. Due to the noninvasive preparation method, the nanoscopic properties of the building blocks are retained in the monolithic aerogels, leading to the powerful transfer of these properties to the macroscale. The open pore system, the universality of the polymer-coating strategy, and the large accessibility of the network make these gel structures promising biosensing platforms. Functionalizing the polymer shell with biomolecules opens up the possibility to utilize the nanoscopic properties of the building blocks in fluorescent probing, magnetoresistive sensing, and plasmonic-driven thermal sensing.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Physikalische Chemie und Elektrochemie
Institut für Anorganische Chemie
PhoenixD: Simulation, Fabrikation und Anwendung optischer Systeme

Externe Organisation(en)

Agricultural Research Institute Giza
Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
Universität Hamburg
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU)
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Complutense Universität Madrid (UCM)
Instituto de Cerámica y Consejo Vidrio (CSIC)
Exzellenzcluster Hearing4all

Typ

Artikel

Journal

ACS Applied Nano Materials

Band

4

Seiten

6678-6688

Anzahl der Seiten

11

Publikationsdatum

23.07.2021

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Werkstoffwissenschaften (insg.)

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.1c00636 (Zugang: Offen)