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Two advances in the development of a one-pot method to prepare silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the Tollens' reagent are described. First, a template-directed process of AgNP synthesis using resorcinol triazole ligands bearing two pendent galactose sugars is shown. Second, the conversion of these AgNPs into SERS nanotags is demonstrated using malachite green isothiocyanate as the Raman reporter molecule.

This manuscript describes a one-pot method for the synthesis of size- and shape-selected silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Tollens' reagent [Ag(NH3)2OH] as the silver source. Sugar triazole ligands facilitate the formation of monodisperse AgNPs in which the size and shape can be controlled according to the reaction conditions. Increasing the size of the ligand reduces size tunability but enhances colloidal stability in high-salt buffers. A key conclusion from this study is that the AgI-binding affinity of these triazole ligands determines their capacity to tune the size of the resultant AgNPs formed. Weaker AgI-binding ligands can be used to form monodisperse, angular AgNPs over a wider range of sizes [(12 ± 3) to (33 ± 7) nm], whereas triazole ligands that exhibit a higher AgI-binding affinity produce monodisperse, spherical AgNPs of a single size [(18 ± 5) nm]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]