Amphiphilic spherical nanoparticles with a nitrogen-enriched carbon-like surface by using β-lactoglobulin as a template

Abstract

We demonstrate a versatile and facile method for fabrication of a new class of amphiphilic spherical nanoparticles having a nitrogen-enriched carbonised surface and precisely-controlled morphology. They are prepared by one-pot polymerization with β-lactoglobulin aggregates as a template with tunable size (70–750 nm) and mild heat-treatment to extend the π-conjugated structures.