Deposition of gold nanoparticles onto poly (DL-lactic acid) microbubbles using cetyltriethylammnonium bromide as a surface modification agent

A simple method for preparing organic-inorganic composite particles based on poly (DL-lactic acid) (PLA) microbubbles and gold nanoparticles is presented in this study. PLA microbubbles are first prepared using a double emulsion-solvent evapouration technique. The surfaces of the prepared PLA microbubbles are modified by a cationic surface active agent, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, which provides a positively charged outer surface. Negatively charged gold nanoparticles are synthesised and deposited on the surfaces of the modified PLA microbubbles through an interaction of electrostatic attraction to prepare gold nanoparticles and PLA microbubbles composite particles. The composite particles are characterised by electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope.