Supramolecular Click Chemistry for Surface Modification of Quantum Dots Mediated by Cucurbit[7]uril.
ACS Nano
; 17(21): 21585-21594, 2023 Nov 14.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37922402
Cucurbiturils (CBs), barrel-shaped macrocyclic molecules, are capable of self-assembling at the surface of nanomaterials in their native state, via their carbonyl-ringed portals. However, the symmetrical two-portal structure typically leads to aggregated nanomaterials. We demonstrate that fluorescent quantum dot (QD) aggregates linked with CBs can be broken-up, retaining CBs adsorbed at their surface, via inclusion of guests in the CB cavity. Simultaneously, the QD surface is modified by a functional tail on the guest, thus the high affinity host-guest binding (logKa > 9) enables a non-covalent, click-like modification of the nanoparticles in aqueous solution. We achieved excellent modification efficiency in several functional QD conjugates as protein labels. Inclusion of weaker-binding guests (logKa = 4-6) enables subsequent displacement with stronger binders, realising modular switchable surface chemistries. Our general "hook-and-eye" approach to host-guest chemistry at nanomaterial interfaces will lead to divergent routes for nano-architectures with rich functionalities for theranostics and photonics in aqueous systems.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
ACS Nano
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos