title: Fast and effective quantum-dots encapsulation and protection in PEO based photo-cross-linked micelles.
abstract: Cadmium-based quantum dots (QDs) were easily, quickly and efficiently transferred from an organic medium to water without modification of their surface chemistry by the simple emulsion/solvent evaporation technique using micelles of amphiphilic diblock copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl acrylate) (PEO-b-PMEA) as hosts. The resulting hybrid micelles were stabilized very rapidly by photo-cross-linking the hydrophobic core around the QDs. The encapsulation and photo-cross-linking process were shown to barely affect the photoluminescence properties. Grafting a short octyl chain at the end of the hydrophobic block enhanced both the colloidal stability of the QDs dispersed in water and prevented the quenching of their fluorescence by copper ions. Grafting a longer hexadecyl chain at the end of the PMEA block decreased the efficiency of the corona cross-linking and led to poorer stabilization and protection.
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, Université du Maine, Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans, UMR-CNRS 6283, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans cedex, France.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ferji
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, Université du Maine, Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans, UMR-CNRS 6283, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans cedex, France.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hamouda
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, Université du Maine, Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans, UMR-CNRS 6283, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans cedex, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chassenieux
authors.affiliation: Nexdot, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Brice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nadal
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physique et d'Etude des Matériaux, ESPCI ParisTech, CNRS UMR 8213, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 10 Rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dubertret
authors.affiliation: U.R. 1268 BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages INRA, rue de la Géraudière, 44316 Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Cedric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaillard
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, Université du Maine, Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans, UMR-CNRS 6283, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans cedex, France. Electronic address: erwan.nicol@univ-lemans.fr.
authors.forename: Erwan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicol
keywords: Block copolymer; Encapsulation; Fluorescence photoenhancement; Micelle; Photo-cross-linking; Quantum dot