One-step synthesis of water-soluble gold nanoparticles/polyaniline composite and its application in glucose sensing

Water-soluble gold nanoparticles/polyaniline nanocomposite was synthesized by using 3-aminophenylboronic acid (3-APBA) as reductive and protective reagent. The polyhydroxy compound poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was used as disperser based on the covalent bond interaction between the boronic acid and diol group. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–vis absorbance spectroscopy were used to characterize the nanoparticles. The results showed that the water-soluble gold nanoparticles/polyaniline nanocomposite could be synthesized by using 3-APBA as reductive reagent in the presence of PVA, which was used as disperser. The particle size could be tuned by changing the concentration of PVA. The nanocomposite prepared in this way could sense glucose based on the competitive between reaction of 3-APBA and PVA, and that of 3-APBA, which indicated that this nanocomposite could be used as sensitive optical probe for the detection of glucose.