title: Overview of stabilizing ligands for biocompatible quantum dot nanocrystals.
abstract: Luminescent colloidal quantum dots (QDs) possess numerous advantages as fluorophores in biological applications. However, a principal challenge is how to retain the desirable optical properties of quantum dots in aqueous media while maintaining biocompatibility. Because QD photophysical properties are directly related to surface states, it is critical to control the surface chemistry that renders QDs biocompatible while maintaining electronic passivation. For more than a decade, investigators have used diverse strategies for altering the QD surface. This review summarizes the most successful approaches for preparing biocompatible QDs using various chemical ligands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. yanjiez@iastate.edu
authors.forename: Yanjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clapp
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008024:Ligands; D053758:Nanoparticles; D045663:Quantum Dots
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008024:Ligands