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Composite Polymer Colloids for SERS‐Based Applications
Author(s) -
Strozyk Malte S.,
Jimenez de Aberasturi Dorleta,
LizMarzán Luis M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the chemical record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.61
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1528-0691
pISSN - 1527-8999
DOI - 10.1002/tcr.201700082
Subject(s) - materials science , polymer , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , surface modification , colloidal gold , colloid , smart polymer , composite number , amphiphile , raman scattering , chemical engineering , raman spectroscopy , composite material , copolymer , physics , optics , engineering
Abstract Polymers and nanoparticles can be combined into different materials with applications in various fields like catalysis, biotechnology, or drug delivery, to cite just a few. Colloidal composites may vary significantly, ranging from a single nanoparticle stabilized by a polymer shell through a polymeric carrier decorated with hundreds of particles. We review here composite colloids comprising gold nanoparticles, with an emphasis in systems with potential application in surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The focus is on selected strategies for synthesis and functionalization, such as: encapsulation of gold nanoparticles by amphiphilic polymers, polymeric matrices as nanoparticle carriers and smart polymer based composites. We stress the benefits derived from the combination of polymers and metal particles toward SERS, such as chemical and colloidal stabilization in complex environments, and collective optical effects through hot spot generation for optimized SERS enhancement or improved imaging tags.