Biocompatible Dendrimer-Encapsulated Palladium Nanoparticles for Oxidation of Morin

Development of highly efficient catalysts to expedite the degradation of organic dyes has been drawing great attention. The aggregation of catalysts reduces the accessibility of catalytic centers for organic dyes and therefore decreases their catalytic ability. Herein, we report a facile method to prepare highly biocompatible and stable dendrimer-encapsulated palladium nanoparticles (Pdn-G5MCI NPs), which exhibit high catalytic efficiency for oxidation of morin. The biocompatible dendrimers were prepared via surface modification of G5 polyamidoamine (G5 PAMAM) dendrimers using maleic anhydride and l-cysteine. Then, they were incubated with disodium tetrachloropalladate, followed by reduction using sodium borohydride to generate Pdn-G5MCI NPs. Transmission electron microscopy results demonstrated that palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) inside Pdn-G5MCI had small diameters (1.77–2.35 nm) and monodisperse states. Dynamic light scattering results confirmed that Pdn-G5MCI NPs had good dispersion and high stabili...