Abstract: A method of coating particles comprises providing a solution comprising reverse micelles. The reverse micelles define discrete aqueous regions in the solution. Hydrophobic nanoparticles are dispersed in the solution. Amphiphilic monomers are added to the solution to attach the amphiphilic monomers to individual ones of the nanoparticles and to dissolve the individual nanoparticles attached with amphiphilic monomers in the discrete aqueous regions. The monomers attached to the nanoparticles are polymerized to form a polymer layer on the individual nanoparticles within the discrete aqueous regions. The polymerization comprises adding a cross-linker to the solution to cross-link the monomers attached to the individual nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oligomeric or polymeric saccharide derivatives comprising glucosamine moieties, e.g. derivatives of oligomeric or polymeric glucosamines such as chitosan oligomers or polymers, in which one or more amine groups are substituted by anchoring groups that chemisorb to the surface of a nanoparticle or form an interdigitated bilayer with a surfactant layer surrounding the nanoparticle. The invention also relates to functionalized nanoparticles comprising such derivatives, a method for forming the functionalized particles and to uses thereof as molecular imaging agents, biosensing agents or drug delivery agents, or in the preparation of such agents.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of a surface-functionalized nanoparticle comprising: (a) reacting a nanoparticle with a functionalized silane and a base in a substantially non-aqueous solvent to obtain a partially conjugated silanated nanoparticle, wherein the functionalized silane and the base are present in relative amounts such that said functionalized silane undergoes substantially only a single hydrolysis reaction; (b) reacting the partially conjugated silanated nanoparticle formed in step (a) with a base in a solvent in which the partially conjugated silanated nanoparticle is substantially insoluble and in which the base is substantially soluble. The invention also provides a surface-functionalized nanoparticle prepared therefrom and a bioconjugate comprising said a surface-functionalized nanoparticle.

Abstract: Polymers for coating nanoparticles (e.g., colloid nanoparticles and quantum dots) and methods associated therewith are provided. Such polymers may be derived from amino acids comprising suitable functional groups for associating the polymer to the nanoparticle. For example, in some embodiments, the polymer includes a polypeptide backbone (e.g., polyaspartic acid) with amino acid side groups (e.g., cysteine and/or methionine). Such a polymer can enable strong binding of the polymer to the nanoparticle surface via its multiple thiol groups, which can lead to excellent colloidal stability. Moreover, the carboxylic acid and amine functional groups of the polymer can facilitate attachment of binding partners (e.g., antibodies) to the polymer, which can allow the polymer-coated nanoparticle to be used in a variety of applications including protein detection and cell labeling.