title: Tailoring the ligand shell for the control of cellular uptake and optical properties of nanocrystals.
abstract: In this short review, the main challenges in the use of hydrophobic nanoparticles in biomedical application are addressed. It is shown how to overcome the different issues by the use of a polymeric encapsulation system, based on an amphiphilic polyisoprene-block-poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymer. On the basis of this simple molecule, the development of a versatile and powerful phase transfer strategy is summarized, focusing on the main advantages like the adjustable size, the retained properties, the excellent shielding and the diverse functionalization properties of the encapsulated nanoparticles. Finally, the extraordinary properties of these encapsulated nanoparticles in terms of toxicity and specificity in a broad in vitro test is demonstrated.
authors: Institute for Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Ostermann
authors: Institute for Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Schmidtke
authors: Institute for Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Wolter
authors: Institute for Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Jan-Philip
authors: JP
authors: Merkl
authors: Institute for Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Hauke
authors: H
authors: Kloust
authors: Institute for Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany ; Center for Applied Nanotechnology, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany ; The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany ; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Horst
authors: H
authors: Weller
keywords: biolable; cellular uptake; fluorescence quenching; poylmeric micelles; quantum dots