Multifaceted Approach for the Fabrication of Metallomicelles and Metallic Nanoparticles Using Solvophobic Bisdodecylaminepalladium (II) Chloride as Precursor

A one-pot synthesis
of solvophobic bisdodecylaminepalladium­(II)
chloride (complex 1) was performed. Complex 1 was characterized using X-ray crystallography and other techniques,
namely, mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared, NMR, elemental
analysis, etc. A multifaceted approach was taken to explore the potential
applications of complex 1. The micellization ability
of complex 1 was estimated using conductivity method
in n-alcohols. The metallomicelles are formed in
alcohols, and the process is thermodynamically spontaneous in nature.
Using complex 1 as precursor, palladium (Pd) nanoparticles
were fabricated using two-phase redox method, where reduction is being
performed in core of metallomicelles formed by complex 1 in dichloromethane (DCM). The micellization in DCM is confirmed
by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The SAXS measurements reveal
that the micellar of core 4–5 nm is being formed, which further
controls the size of nanoparticle. This approach was advantageous
in terms of size control, methodology, and yield. Pd nanoparticles
were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive
X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV–visible spectroscopy
and were also screened for bovine serum albumin interactions. Complex 1 and Pd nanoparticles were found to possess antimicrobial
property with broad spectrum and are active against bacteria and fungi.
The cytotoxicity analyses were performed over healthy cells (Vero
cell lines extracted from kidney of green monkey), and the results
reveal IC50 value of 10 μg/mL for complex 1.