Multifunctional and robust composite materials comprising gold nanoparticles at a spherical polystyrene particle surface

Abstract

The preparation of a family of composite particles comprising gold nanoparticles (AuNP) assembled at a polystyrene (PS) surface is reported. Tunable loading is demonstrated for AuNP sizes (4.5–26 nm). The robust composites are stable to multiple centrifugation and dispersion cycles and to conditions of high ionic strength, physiological buffer and cell culture media. These properties provide potential for a variety of applications from cellular studies to catalysis.