Multi stimuli‐responsive HPC‐PAA/Eu(AA)3Phen complex nanogels and their decoration with 3‐APBA for detecting glucose

Abstract In this paper, novel multi stimuli‐responsive complex nanogels of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC)‐PAA/Eu(acrylic acid [AA]) 3 Phen were synthesized by radical polymerization method with HPC, rare earth complex (Eu(AA) 3 Phen) and AA as raw materials, and the 3‐aminophenylboronic acid (3‐APBA) decorated nanogels (HPC‐PAAPBA/Eu(AA) 3 Phen) were fabricated via condensation of 1‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐3‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride with 3‐APBA. The microstructure, morphology and diameter of the nanogel were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, UV–Visible spectrophotometer, transmission electron microscope, dynamic light scattering. Moreover, the fluorescence responsive performance of complex nanogels to temperature, pH value and glucose concentration was investigated by photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results showed that both of the as‐prepared nanogels were uniform in size and had good monodispersity. The temperature and pH value had significant effects on the particle size and the fluorescence emission intensity of the HPC‐PAA/Eu(AA) 3 Phen complex nanogels; after decoration with 3‐APBA, the obtained HPC‐PAAPBA/Eu(AA) 3 Phen nanogels showed excellent stimulus‐response to glucose concentration.