Shielding of quantum dots using diblock copolymers: implementing copper catalyzed click chemistry to fluorescent quantum dots

Jan-Philip Merkl; Johannes Ostermann; Christian Schmidtke; Hauke Kloust; Robin Eggers; Artur Feld; Christopher Wolter; Anna-Marlena Kreuziger; Sandra Flessau; Hedi Mattoussi; Horst Weller

doi:10.1117/12.2048368

24 March 2014 Shielding of quantum dots using diblock copolymers: implementing copper catalyzed click chemistry to fluorescent quantum dots

Jan-Philip Merkl, Johannes Ostermann, Christian Schmidtke, Hauke Kloust, Robin Eggers, Artur Feld, Christopher Wolter, Anna-Marlena Kreuziger, Sandra Flessau, Hedi Mattoussi, Horst Weller

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8955, Colloidal Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications IX; 89551X (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2048368
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2014, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

We describe the design and optimization of an amphiphilic diblock copolymer and its use to provide surface functionalization of colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots, QDs). This polymer coating promotes hydrophilicity of the nanocrystals while providing numerous functional groups ideally suited for biofunctionalization of the QDs using copper-catalyzed azide alkyne Husigen 1,3-cyloaddition (i.e., cupper catalyzed “click” reaction). Copper ions are known to quench the fluorescence of QDs in solution. Thus effective shielding of the nanocrystal surface is essential to apply copper-catalyzed reactions to luminescent QDs without drastically quenching their emission. We have applied a strategy based on micellar encapsulation within poly(isoprene-block- ethylene oxide) diblock-copolymers (PI-b-PEO), where three critical factors promote and control the effectiveness of the shielding of copper ion penetration: 1) The excess of PI-b-PEO, 2) the size of PI-b-PEO and 3) insertion of an additional PS-shell grown via seeded emulsion polymerization (EP) reaction. Due to the amphiphilic character of the block-copolymer, this approach provides a shielding layer surrounding the particles, preventing metal ions from reaching the QD surfaces and maintaining high photoluminescence. The effective shielding allowed the use of copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne 1,3-cycloaddition (CuAAC) to hydrophilic and highly fluorescent QDs, opening up great possibilities for the bio functionalization of QDs.

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Jan-Philip Merkl, Johannes Ostermann, Christian Schmidtke, Hauke Kloust, Robin Eggers, Artur Feld, Christopher Wolter, Anna-Marlena Kreuziger, Sandra Flessau, Hedi Mattoussi, and Horst Weller "Shielding of quantum dots using diblock copolymers: implementing copper catalyzed click chemistry to fluorescent quantum dots", Proc. SPIE 8955, Colloidal Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications IX, 89551X (24 March 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2048368

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