Synthesis and characterisation of hybrid materials based on gold nanoparticles and HBP hyperbranched polyesters: Preparation of ``volcano-rings'' nanostructures

This paper describes a comprehensive investigation on the synthesis and characterisation of hybrid materials based on gold nanoparticles assisted with pseudo G2, G3 and G4 generations of hyperbranched polymers (HBP) (Boltorn H20, H30, H40). Nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained via a wet chemical method by mixing HBP polymers and a gold precursor in N,N′Dimethylformamide (DMF) followed by reduction by hydrazine. The system has been evaluated with two HBP:gold molar ratios 1:1 and 1:10. The resulting hybrid materials were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction spectrometry (XRD) and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR).The modified hybridization strategy clearly demonstrated that Boltorn possess unique interaction abilities with AuNPs. Well-defined and novel HBP-AuNPs hybrid materials were obtained mainly as a result of the interaction between the peripheral hydroxyl groups of HBP and the gold nanoparticles. In the hybrid nanomaterials synthesis process, volcano-nanorings structures were obtained on solid substrate during the reaction of HBP-G4-OH64 (Boltorn H40) with gold nanoparticles. These novel nanostructured hybrid materials could be used in medicine as specific nano-containers for different drug molecules.

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► Boltorn polymers have the ability to stabilize the size of gold nanoparticles.
► Gold nanoparticles interact with used polymers to create hybrid nanomaterials.
► Boltorn H40–gold nanoparticles interaction leads to obtain ``volcano-rings''
► ``Volcano-rings'' nanostructures can potentially be used as new nanocarriers.