Versatile Synthetic Strategy for Coating Upconverting Nanoparticles with Polymer Shells through Localized Photopolymerization by Using the Particles as Internal Light Sources |
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| Authors: | Selim Beyazit Dr Serena Ambrosini Dr Nataliya Marchyk Emilia Palo Vishal Kale Prof Tero Soukka Dr Bernadette Tse?Sum?Bui Prof Karsten Haupt |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Compiègne University of Technology, CNRS Enzyme and Cell Engineering Laboratory, Rue Roger Couttolenc, CS 60319, 60203 Compiègne Cedex (France) http://www.utc.fr/mip;2. University of Turku, Department of Biotechnology, Tykist?katu 6A, 20520 Turku (Finland) |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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| Keywords: | bioconjugation click chemistry core– shell nanoparticles molecularly imprinted polymers upconverting nanoparticles |
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