Synthesis of pH-responsive shell cross-linked micelles and their use as nanoreactors for the preparation of gold nanoparticles

摘要

Shell cross-linked (SCL) micelles combine the properties of micelles, microgels, nanoparticles and dendrimers and various applications such as targeted drug delivery, sequestration of metabolites and entrapment of environmental pollutants have been suggested. Recent efforts have focused on the synthesis of SCL micelles that have either hollow cores or tunably hydrophilic cores. In principle, hollow SCL micelles offer higher loading capacities, but tunable hydrophilic cores are also attractive since no core removal step is required and there is the potential for the triggered release of encapsulated actives via various chemical stimuli (pH, temperature, ionic strength etc.).