A bioinspired strategy for surface modification of silica nanoparticles

Silica nanoparticles have become one of the most promising nanomaterials for a vast of applications. In this work, a novel strategy for surface modification of silica nanoparticles has been developed for the first time via combination of mussel inspired chemistry and Michael addition reaction. In this procedure, thin polydopamine (PDA) films were first coated on the bare silica nanoparticles via self-polymerization of dopamine in alkaline condition. And then amino-containing polymers were introduced onto the PDA coated silica nanoparticles through Michael addition reaction, that are synthesized from free radical polymerization using poly(ethylene glycol) methyl methacrylate (PEGMA) and N-(3-aminopropyl) methacrylamide (NAPAM) as monomers and ammonium persulfate as the initiator. The successful modification of silica nanoparticles was evidenced by a series of characterization techniques. As compared with the bare silica nanoparticles, the polymers modified silica nanoparticles showed remarkable enhanced dispersibility in both aqueous and organic solution. This strategy is rather simple, effective and versatile. Therefore, it should be of specific importance for further applications of silica nanoparticles and will spark great research attention of scientists from different fields.