Preparation of polymer coated gold nanoparticles by surface-confined living radical polymerization at ambient temperature

Nanometer sized core-shell particles containing a gold core and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shells were prepared by surface-confined living radical polymerization on gold nanoparticles, Gold nanoparticles were prepared in the presence of 11-mercaptoundecanol (MUD) and subsequently esterified with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIB). Atom transfer living radical polymerization was conducted on the Br-terminated gold nanoparticles using copper(l) bromide/1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (Me(4)CYclam) as a room-temperature catalyst. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of polymer on the nanoparticle surfaces. The resulting gold/polymer nanocomposite particles are stable in suspension. Transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy were performed to characterize the gold nanoparticles (GNPs).