Pyridine and related ligand compounds, functionalized nanoparticulate composites and methods of preparation

An emissive nanoparticle composite comprising a CdSe nanoparticle and an ethylene glycol ligand component, said component having a nitrogenous terminus selected from pyridinyl and aminopyridinyl moieties.

A polymeric ligand component comprising a poly(ethylene glycol) component and a first terminus comprising a pyridinyl moiety, said poly(ethylene glycol) component comprising at least 2 ethylene glycol monomers and a second terminus comprising a functional group moiety selected from hydroxy, alkyl, alkoxy, carboxylate, thymine, ammonium salt and substituted ammonium salt moieties.

A system for nanoparticulate dispersion, said system comprising:

• a composite comprising a nanoparticulate substrate and a first ligand component, said composite in a first liquid medium;
• and
• a second ligand component in a second liquid medium, said second ligand component at least partially soluble in said second liquid medium and selected from poly(ethylene glycol), poly(hexaethylene glycol), poly(hexadecylethylene glycol), poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(lactide), poly(glycolide), polyglycidyl, polypropylene oxide and combinations thereof.

A method of using ligand solubility to disperse a nanoparticulate substrate, said method comprising:

• providing a composite comprising a nanoparticulate substrate and a first ligand component;
• and
• contacting said composite with a second ligand component, said second ligand component in a liquid medium, said second ligand component at least partially soluble in said medium, said contact with said second ligand component dispersing said nanoparticulate substrate in said medium.