@article{2959205,
    title = "Facile aqueous synthesis and stabilization of nearly monodispersed gold nanospheres by poly(L
-proline)",
    author = "Manos Gkikas and Jaakko Timonen and Janne Ruokolainen and Paschalis Alexandridis and Hermis Iatrou",
    journal = "Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry",
    year = "2013",
    volume = "51",
    number = "6",
    pages = "1448--1456",
    publisher = "Wiley",
    issn = "0887-624X, 1099-0518",
    doi = "10.1002/pola.26517",
    keywords = "Biocompatibility;  Biomaterials;  Circular dichroism spectroscopy;  Dichroism;  Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy;  Gold;  Gold nanoparticles;  Medical applications;  Molar concentration;  Molar ratio;  Nanocrystalline materials;  Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy;  Plasmons;  Polymers;  Polypeptides;  Sols;  Surface plasmon resonance;  Synthesis (chemical);  Thermogravimetric analysis, Aqueous synthesis;  Biomedical applications;  Colloidal Stability;  FTIR and NMR spectroscopy;  Green chemistry;  Secondary structures;  Stabilizing agents;  Watersoluble polymers, Gold compounds",
    abstract = "A facile strategy is developed to synthesize Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs) using water-soluble poly(L-proline) (PLP). The synthesized NPs were characterized by TEM, FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and circular dichroism. It was found that PLP has a "dual" role as an efficient reductant of Au(III) and simultaneously as a stabilizing agent of Au-NPs. The influence of PLP molecular weight, temperature, initial Au(III) concentration, and Au(III)/PLP molar ratio on the size and dispersity of Au-NPs is examined. It was found that the unique extended secondary structure of PLP II resulted in the facile formation of highly crystalline Au-NPs in water at a very low Au(III)/PLP molar ratio. These Au-NPs have the smallest dimensions and size distributions among NPs synthesized so far by polymeric materials in aqueous media, and exhibit enduring colloidal stability. Therefore, by utilizing biocompatible and benign materials in water, we managed to obtain Au-NPs, so as the final product is ready-to-use for biomedical applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc."
}