Dual orthogonal functionality in a single material is highly desirable in many fields such as bio-imaging, sensing, coating or diagnostic and therapy.[1,2] However, combining two different functionalities in a precise and controlled way is still a challenging task. Here we present how simply dual functional hybrid nanoparticles consisting of a silica core with a fluorescent and a thermoresponsive polymeric layers can be prepared. As a first step of this work, silica core particles were coated by a fluorescent layer using surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Afterwards, the fluorescent silica nanoparticles were completely enclosed in a switchable protective coating made of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). The thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) changes its properties with varying the surroundings temperature and this behavior is reversible and controllable.[3] To the best of our knowledge these types of hybrid dual functional core-shell-shell nanoparticles have not yet been prepared, despite the prospect of many potential applications. [1] W. Wan, M. Biyikal, R. Wagner, B. Sellergren and K. Rurack, Fluorescent sensory microparticles that "light-up" consisting of a silica core and a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) shell, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2013, 52, 7023-7027. [2] O. Koshkina, T. Lang, R. Thiermann, D. Docter, R. H. Stauber, C. Secker, H. Schlaad, S. Weidner, B. Mohr, M. Maskos and A. Bertin, Temperature-triggered protein adsorption on polymer-coated nanoparticles in serum, Langmuir, 2015, 31, 8873-8881. [3] M. Füllbrandt, E. Ermilova, A. Asadujjaman, R. Hölzel, F. F. Bier, R. von Klitzing and A. Schönhals, Dynamics of linear poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) in water around the phase transition investigated by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, J. Phys. Chem. B, 2014, 118, 3750-3759.

Endowing nanoparticles with orthogonal functionalities via a core/shell/shell architecture

251st National Meeting (2016)

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