Nanoparticles
AssigneeMidatech Limited
InventorsSoledad Penades, Javier Rojo, Manuel Martin-Lomas
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Abstract
Materials and methods for studying and modulating the interaction of carbohydrate-containing moieties with other species are described, in particular, small particles, e.g. clusters of metal or semiconductor atoms, which can be employed as a substrate for immobilizing a plurality of ligands comprising carbohydrate groups. These “nanoparticles” can then be used to study carbohydrate mediated interactions, e.g. with other carbohydrates or proteins, and as therapeutics and diagnostic reagents.
Claims32
A nanoparticle comprising a core of metal atoms covalently linked to at least 20 ligands, wherein the nanoparticle has more than one species of ligand immobilized thereon and wherein at least one of the species of ligand comprises a carbohydrate group.
A nanoparticle comprising a core of (a) metal atoms covalently linked to at least 20 ligands, wherein the ligands comprise carbohydrate groups and (b) semiconductor atoms.
The nanoparticle of 26, wherein the further species of ligand comprises a peptide ligand, a protein domain ligand, a nucleic acid ligand or a fluorescent group ligand.
A method of preparing a nanoparticle comprising a metallic core covalently linked to a plurality of ligands, wherein the metallic core comprises gold atoms and the ligand comprises a carbohydrate group, the method comprising:
- synthesizing a sulphide derivative of the ligand;
- reacting the sulphide derivatised ligand and tetrachloroauric acid in the presence of reducing agent to produce the nanoparticles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.