Effect of Gold Nanoparticles on the Thermosensitivity, Morphology, and Optical Properties of Poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid) Microgels.

Novel positive thermosensitive microgels of poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid) with embedded gold nanoparticles have been synthesized and characterized by means of dynamic light scattering, UV-vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. These systems show temperature (upper critical solution temperature-like volume phase transition) and optical responsiveness making them externally triggered systems.