Coated water soluble nanoparticles
AssigneeSingapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research
InventorsJackie Y. Ying, Subramanian T. Selvan, Timothy T. Tan
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Abstract
Nanoparticles and methods of making nanoparticles are provided. The nanoparticles may include semiconductor nanocrystals. A shell may encapsulate a nanoparticle core, and the shell may include non-organic material and may be silica. The shell may also include additional species such as PEG. In some embodiments, a passivation layer is in contact with the core.
Claims18
A method of making a water-soluble nanoparticle, the method comprising:
- contacting an amine with a nanoparticle to modify the nanoparticle surface;
- suspending the nanoparticle in an aqueous phase of an aqueous-in-nonaqueous emulsion;
- introducing a silica precursor to the emulsion;
- and
- polymerizing the silica precursor to form a silica shell that at least partially encapsulates the nanoparticle.
A semiconductor nanocrystal solution comprising:
- an aqueous solution having a pH of less than about 8.0;
- a plurality of semiconductor nanocrystals dissolved in the aqueous solution wherein at least 90% of the semiconductor nanocrystals, by weight, remain dissolved for greater than 6 hours.
A semiconductor nanocrystal wherein the nanocrystal is soluble in water at a pH of less than about 8.0.
A nanoparticle comprising a silica shell encapsulating a core, the silica shell including polyethylene glycol, or a derivative thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.