Formation of Ag nanoparticles within the thermosensitive hairy hybrid particles

Herein we report on the production of composite core-shell particles, which are actually self-assembly of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-based amphiphilic block copolymers as a template for metal-block copolymer nanocomposites formation. Organic-inorganic composites were prepared with Ag nanoparticles embedded within colloidal particles of an amphiphilic, thermally responsive polymer. To promote the incorporation of unaggregated Ag nanoparticles, temperature responsive microspheres of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (NIPAM) block with polystyrene were synthesized. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) could act as the linker between Ag ions (Ag nanoparticles) and poly (styrene-b-N-isopropylacrylamide) (PS-b-PNIPAM) colloids and the reducing agent in the formation of Ag nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements confirmed the nanostructures, (HNMR)-H-1 and FTIR characterized the components of the resulting nanoobjects. These stimuli-responsive hybrid microspheres will have potential applications in biomedical areas. such as tissue engineering and drug delivery. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.