title: Luminescent nanoparticles with lanthanide-containing poly(ethylene glycol)-Poly(ε-caprolactone) block copolymers.
abstract: Lanthanide-containing nanoparticles have attracted much attention due to their unique optical properties and potential in nanotechnological applications. An amphiphilic block copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) methyl ether (mPEG-PCL) was functionalized with a dipicolinic acid (dpa) moiety and coordinated to lanthanide ions to afford [Ln(dpa-PCL-PEG-OCH3)3](HNEt3)3 (Ln = Eu(3+), Tb(3+)). Micelle-like nanoparticles of dpa-PCL-PEG-OCH3 macroligand and metal-centered polymers were prepared by solvent displacement methods. Dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS) and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy images confirmed the presence of solid sphere (<47 nm in diameter) and vesicle (>47 nm in diameter) morphologies. The viability and stability of the lanthanide complexes in micelle-like nanoparticles was explored by DLS and luminescence spectroscopy, and found to be stable for several weeks.
authors.affiliation: Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg , Chemin des Verdiers 4, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Thévenaz
authors.forename: Christophe A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Monnier
authors.forename: Sandor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balog
authors.forename: Gina L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Fiore
mesh_terms: D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D028581:Lanthanoid Series Elements / Q000737:chemistry*; D049449:Luminescence; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D028581:Lanthanoid Series Elements; D011091:Polyesters; C476300:poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)