Formation of core-shell Au@Ag nanorods induced by catecholamines: A comparative study and an analytical application

• Formation of core-shell Au@Ag nanorods under influence of catecholamines was systematically studied.
• Influence of different parameters during the synthesis was evaluated.
• Characterization of synthesized Au@Ag nanorods was performed.
• A method for simple spectrophotometric determination of catecholamines was developed.

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) stabilized by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) were synthesized and an interaction of catecholamines (CAs) with silver ions in the presence of the obtained AuNRs was studied. The reaction results into formation of core-shell Au@Ag nanorods (Au@AgNRs) and leads to a hypsochromic shift of the long-wave surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band in the absorption spectrum of AuNRs. The influence of a CA structure, excess of CTAB, interaction time, pH, concentration of AuNRs, silver ions and CAs on this interaction was studied. Based on correlation of the NRs spectral characteristics with the concentration of CAs, a method for spectrophotometric determination of dobutamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine with detection limits 27, 18, 16 and 13 μg L−1, respectively, has been developed. The method can be applied to the analysis of medicines.

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