Issue 28, 2023

Dual functionality of ferrocene-based metallopolymers as radical scavengers and nanoparticle stabilizing agents

Abstract

The beneficial redox properties of ferrocene-based polymers have been utilized during in situ preparation of metallic nanoparticles, while such redox features also indicate a great promise in applications as free radical scavengers. Here, colloidal dispersions of an antioxidant nanozyme composed of amidine-functionalized polystyrene latex (AL) nanoparticles, negatively charged poly(ferrocenylsilane) (PFS(−)) organometallic polyions, and ascorbic acid (AA) were formulated. The AL was first functionalized with PFS(−). Increasing the polymer dose resulted in charge neutralization and subsequent charge reversal of the particles. The strength of repulsive interparticle forces of electrostatic nature was significant at low and high doses leading to stable colloids, while attractive forces dominated near the charge neutralization point giving rise to unstable dispersions. The saturated PFS(−) layer adsorbed on the surface of the AL (p-AL nanozyme) enhanced the colloidal stability against salt-induced aggregation without affecting the pH-dependent charge and size of the particles. The joint effect of PFS(−) and the AA in radical decomposition was observed indicating the antioxidant potential of the system. The immobilization of PFS(−) deteriorated its scavenging activity, yet the combination with AA improved this feature. The results indicate that p-AL-AA is a promising radical scavenger since the high colloidal stability of the particles allows application in heterogeneous systems, such as in industrial manufacturing processes, where antioxidants are required to maintain acceptable product quality.

Graphical abstract: Dual functionality of ferrocene-based metallopolymers as radical scavengers and nanoparticle stabilizing agents

  • This article is part of the themed collection: Nanozymes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 May 2023
Accepted
10 Jun 2023
First published
12 Jun 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Nanoscale, 2023,15, 11875-11883

Dual functionality of ferrocene-based metallopolymers as radical scavengers and nanoparticle stabilizing agents

N. B. Alsharif, T. G. Halmágyi, M. A. Hempenius, G. J. Vancso, C. Nardin and I. Szilagyi, Nanoscale, 2023, 15, 11875 DOI: 10.1039/D3NR02063K

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