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Role of thiol-containing polyethylene glycol (thiol-PEG) in the modification process of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs): Stabilizer or coagulant?

2013; Elsevier BV; Volume: 404; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jcis.2013.04.020

1095-7103

Wei Wang, Qinqin Wei, Jun Wang, Bicui Wang, Saihui Zhang, Yuan Zhi,

Nanocluster Synthesis and Applications

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have significant potential as biosensors and drug delivery vehicles, as well as imaging and thermotherapy agents. Thiol-containing polyethylene glycol (PEG), hereafter denoted as thiol-PEG, is widely used as a macromolecular ligand for modifying AuNPs and stabilizing them under various environments. In this work, a series of thiol-PEG-modified AuNPs (PEGylated AuNPs) with different PEG molecular weights (Mw) were synthesized. The saturated capping density, charge-screening ability, and stability of the PEGylated AuNPs were then examined. The results showed that high-Mw PEG stabilized the AuNPs and screened the surface charge better than low-Mw PEG, but the latter showed higher saturated capping density. More importantly, PEG exhibited the maximum coagulation concentration (MCC) and critical stabilization concentration (CSC) in the stabilizing process of the AuNPs. Thiol-PEG acted as an AuNP stabilizer only when its concentration was higher than the CSC. Otherwise, thiol-PEG accelerated AuNPs aggregation, which reached the peak level at the MCC. These results were significant in recognizing the influence of thiol-PEG on the stability of AuNPs.