Compact and homogeneous quantum dots and methods of making the same
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsAndrew M. Smith, Chunlai Tu, Liang Ma
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides quantum dots and methods of making the quantum dots comprising a substantially homogeneous population of monomeric nanocrystals, of a very small size, about 7 nm to about 12 nm in diameter. The method comprises mixing a nanocrystal coated with weakly binding ligands or ions with a polymer in a solution and incubating at a temperature greater than about 100° C., thereby forming a quantum dot having a substantially homogenous population of monomeric nanocrystals. The quantum dots can be further conjugated to bioaffinity molecules, enabling broad utilization of compact, biofunctional quantum dots for studying crowded macromolecular environments.
Claims22
A method of making a quantum dot having a substantially homogeneous population of monomeric nanocrystals, the method comprising mixing a nanocrystal coated with weakly binding ligands or ions with at least one polymer in a solution and incubating at a temperature greater than about 100° C., thereby forming a quantum dot having a substantially homogeneous population of monomeric nanocrystals.
A method of making a quantum dot having a substantially homogeneous population of monomeric nanocrystals, the method comprising:
- coating a nanocrystal that is substantially free of hydrophobic ligands with weakly binding ligands or ions to form a nanocrystal coated with weakly binding ligands or ions;
- mixing the nanocrystal coated with weakly binding ligands or ions with at least one polymer in a solution;
- incubating at a temperature greater than about 100° C.;
- and
- forming a quantum dot having a substantially homogeneous population of monomeric nanocrystals.
A method of making a quantum dot having a substantially homogeneous population of monomeric nanocrystals, the method comprising:
- removing hydrophobic ligands from a nanocrystal;
- coating the nanocrystal with a plurality of weakly binding ligands or ions to form a nanocrystal coated with weakly binding ligands or ions;
- mixing the nanocrystal coated with weakly binding ligands or ions with a polymer in a solution;
- incubating the solution at a temperature greater than about 100° C.;
- and
- forming a quantum dot having a substantially homogeneous population of monomeric nanocrystals.
A quantum dot comprising a substantially homogeneous population of monomeric nanocrystals with a multidentate polymer coating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.