Gold Nanoparticles Bearing an α-Lipoic Acid-based Ligand Shell: Synthesis, Model Complexes and Studies Concerning Phosphorescent Platinum(II)-Functionalisation

Abstract

The surface functionalisation of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with luminescent platinum complexes has been investigated, utilising α-lipoic acid derivatives for GNP stabilisation. Model complexes have been studied to mimic the chemisorption chemistry required to afford GNPs protected by an α-lipoic acid-based ligand shell with terminal functionalisation suitable for metal coordination, and the unambiguous binding of the cyclic disulfide moiety at a zero-valent precious metal core through oxidative addition has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Subsequently, gold nanoparticles bearing the α-lipoic acid-based ligand shell have been prepared and characterised, and a synthetic methodology for the immobilisation of PtII luminophores onto their surface has been established.