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Versatile Synthetic Strategy for Coating Upconverting Nanoparticles with Polymer Shells through Localized Photopolymerization by Using the Particles as Internal Light Sources
Author(s) -
Beyazit Selim,
Ambrosini Serena,
Marchyk Nataliya,
Palo Emilia,
Kale Vishal,
Soukka Tero,
Tse Sum Bui Bernadette,
Haupt Karsten
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201403576
Subject(s) - polymer , coating , surface modification , biocompatibility , nanotechnology , nanoparticle , materials science , monomer , fluorescence , photoexcitation , biological imaging , photopolymer , visible spectrum , photon upconversion , chemical engineering , chemistry , optoelectronics , luminescence , optics , excited state , composite material , physics , nuclear physics , engineering , metallurgy
We present a straightforward and generic strategy for coating upconverting nanoparticles (UCPs) with polymer shells for their protection, functionalization, conjugation, and for biocompatibility. UCPs are attracting much attention for their potential use as fluorescent labels in biological applications. However, they are hydrophobic and non‐compatible with aqueous media; thus prior surface modification is essential. Our method uses the internal UV or visible light emitted from UCPs upon photoexcitation with near‐infrared radiation, to locally photopolymerize a thin polymer shell around the UCPs. In this way, a large variety of monomers with different chemical functionalities can be incorporated. If required, a second layer can be added on top of the first. Our method can provide a large spectrum of surface functional groups rapidly and in one pot, hence offering a platform for the preparation of libraries of functional polymer‐encapsulated UCPs for applications in bioassays, biosensing, optical imaging, and theranostics.