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Towards Utilising Photocrosslinking of Polydiacetylenes for the Preparation of “Stealth” Upconverting Nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Nsubuga Anne,
Zarschler Kristof,
Sgarzi Massimo,
Graham Bim,
Stephan Holger,
Joshi Tanmaya
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201811003
Subject(s) - diacetylene , polydiacetylenes , biocompatibility , chemistry , coating , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , materials science , organic chemistry , polymerization , polymer
We demonstrate a novel strategy for preparing hydrophilic upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) by harnessing the photocrosslinking ability of diacetylenes. Replacement of the hydrophobic oleate coating on the UCNPs with 10,12‐pentacosadiynoic acid, followed by overcoating with diacetylene phospholipid and subsequent photocrosslinking under 254 nm irradiation produces water‐dispersible polydiacetylene‐coated UCNPs. These UCNPs resist the formation of a biomolecular corona and show great colloidal stability. Furthermore, amine groups on the diacetylene phospholipid allow for functionalisation of the UCNPs with, for example, radiolabels or targeting moieties. These results demonstrate that this new surface‐coating method has great potential for use in the preparation of UCNPs with improved biocompatibility.