Synthesis of cationic hyperbranched multiarm copolymer and its application in self-reducing and stabilizing gold nanoparticles.

A novel hyperbranched multiarm copolymer of HBPO- star-PDEAEMA with a hydrophobic poly(3-ethyl-3-(hydroxymethyl) oxetane) (HBPO) core and many cationic poly(2-( N,N-diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) arms has been synthesized through an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method, and been applied to spontaneously reduce and stabilize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in water without other additional agents. The size of the nanoparticles could be effectively controlled at about 4 nm, and the nanoparticles are extremely stable in solution without aggregation even for one year. It was found that solution pH and the molar ratio of N/Au have certain effects on the size and stability of AuNPs. This work provides a simple method for the synthesis of uniform and highly stable AuNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]