Quantitative measurement of ligand exchange on iron oxides via radiolabeled oleic acid

Solvent Effects in Ligand Stripping Behavior of Colloidal Nanoparticles

Inorganic colloidal nanoparticle (NP) properties can be tuned by stripping stabilizing ligands using a poor solvent. However, the mechanism behind ligand stripping is poorly understood, in part because in situ measurements of ligand stripping are challenging at the nanoscale. Here, we investigate ethanol solvent-mediated oleylamine ligand stripping from magnetite (Fe₃O₄) NPs in different compositions of ethanol/hexane mixtures using atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Our study elucidates a complex interplay of ethanol interactions with system components and indicates the existence of a threshold concentration of ∼34 vol % ethanol, above which ligand stripping saturates. Moreover, hydrogen bonding between ethanol and stripped ligands inhibits subsequent readsorption of the ligands on the NP surface. A proposed modification of the Langmuir isotherm explains the role of the enthalpy of mixing of the ligands and solvents on the ligand stripping mechanism. A good agreement between the MD predictions and TGA measurements of ligand stripping from Fe₃O₄ NPs validates the simulation observations. Our findings demonstrate that the ligand coverage of NPs can be controlled by using a poor solvent below the threshold concentration and highlight the importance of ligand-solvent interactions that modulate the properties of colloidal NPs. The study also provides an approach for a detailed in silico study of ligand stripping and exchange from colloidal NPs that are crucial for applications of NPs spanning self-assembly, optoelectronics, nanomedicine, and catalysis.

Phosphonate coating of commercial iron oxide nanoparticles for nanowarming cryopreserved samples

New preservation technologies may allow for organ banking similar to blood and biomaterial banking approaches. Using cryoprotective agents (CPAs), aqueous solutions with organic components such as DMSO, propylene glycol, and added salts and sugars, organs can be used to vitrify and store organs at -140 °C. When needed, these organs can be rewarmed in a rapid and uniform manner if CPAs are supplemented with iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) in an applied radiofrequency field. Speed and uniformity of warming are both IONP concentration and CPA suspension dependent. Here we present a coating method of small molecule phosphonate linker (PLink) and biocompatible polymer (i.e. polyethylene glycol PEG) that tunes stability and increases the maximum allowable concentration of IONPs in CPA suspension. PLink contains a phosphonate 'anchor' for high irreversible binding to iron oxide and a carboxylic acid 'handle' for ligand attachment. PLink-PEG removes and replaces the initial coating layer of commercially available IONPs (EMG1200 (hydrophobic) and EMG308 (hydrophilic) Ferrotec, Inc., increasing colloidal stability and decreasing aggregation in both water and CPAs, (verified with dynamic light scattering) from minutes (uncoated) to up to 6 days. Heating properties of EMG1200, specific absorption rate (SAR), measured using an applied field of 360 kHz and 20 kA m-1, increased from 20 to 180 W per g Fe with increasing PLink-PEG5000. PEG replacing the initially hydrophobic coating decreased aggregation in water and CPA, consistent with earlier studies on heating performance. Furthermore, although the size is minimized at 0.20 mol PEG per g Fe, heating is not maximized until concentrations above 0.43 mol PEG per g Fe on EMG1200. SAR on hydrophilic EMG308 was preserved at 400 W per g Fe regardless of the amount of PLink added to the core. Herein concentrations of IONP in VS55 (common CPA) significantly above our previous capabilities, sIONP at 10 mg Fe per mL, was reached, 25 mg Fe per mL of 308-PEG5000 and 60 mg Fe per mL of 1200-PEG5000, approaching stock EMG308 in water, 60 mg Fe per mL. Furthermore, at these concentrations cryopreserved Human dermal fibroblast cells were successfully nanowarmed (at applied fields described above), with higher viability as compared to convective rewarming in a water bath and heating rate close to 200 °C min-1, 2.5 times faster than our current system. Using PLink as the coating method allowed for higher concentrations of IONPs to be successfully suspended in CPA without affecting the heating ability. Additionally, the model ligand, PEG, allowed for increased stability over time in nanowarming experiments.

Enhanced thermodynamic, pharmacokinetic and theranostic properties of polymeric micelles via hydrophobic core-clustering of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

Background

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO) have been applied for decades to design theranostic polymeric micelles for targeted cancer therapy and diagnostic MR imaging. However, the effects of SPIO on the physicochemical, and biological properties of polymeric micelles have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, we investigated potential effect of SPIO on the physical and biological properties of theranostic polymeric micelles using representative cancer drug (doxorubicin; Doxo) and polymer carrier (i.e., poly (ethylene glycol)-co-poly(D,L-lactide), PEG-PLA).

Methods

SPIO were synthesized from Fe(acetyl acetonate)₃ in an aryl ether. SPIO and Doxo were loaded into the polymeric micelles by a solvent-evaporation method. We observed the effect of SPIO-clustering on drug loading, micelle size, thermodynamic stability, and theranostic property of PEG-PLA polymeric micelles. In addition, cellular uptake behaviors, pharmacokinetic and biodistribution study were performed.

Results

SPIO formed hydrophobic geometric cavity in the micelle core and significantly affected the integrity of micelles in terms of micelle size, Doxo loading, critical micelle concentration (CMC) and in vitro dissociation. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies also showed the enhanced Area Under Curve (AUC) and elongated the half-life of Doxo.

Conclusions

Clustered SPIO in micelles largely affects not only MR imaging properties but also biological and physical properties of polymeric micelles.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40824-022-00255-9.

Thermodynamics of nanocrystal–ligand binding through isothermal titration calorimetry

Manipulations of nanocrystal (NC) surfaces have propelled the applications of colloidal NCs across various fields such as bioimaging, catalysis, electronics, and sensing applications.

Induction heating induced self-healing of nanocomposites based on surface-functionalized cationic iron oxide particles and polyelectrolytes

Supramolecular interactions represent versatile, reversible, and intrinsic mechanisms for bond formation after the failure of materials. Ionic interactions excel through high flexibility and binding strength. In this study, ionic interactions between polymer matrices and inorganic nanoparticles were used to induce self-healing properties. Random, anionic polyelectrolyte copolymers consisting of di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and sodium-4-(methacryloyloxy)butan-1-sulfonate were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements confirmed the adjustability of the glass transition temperature via the polymer composition. Within the glass transition temperature window of the homopolymers from -23 °C to 126 °C, the range between -18 °C to 50 °C was examined, generating suitable matrices for self-healing. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with a size of 8 nm were synthesized by thermal decomposition of iron(iii) acetylacetonate and used as the inorganic filler. Positive surface charges were introduced by functionalization with N,N,N-trimethyl-6-phosphonhexan-1-aminium bromide. Functionalization was confirmed with FTIR, TGA, and zeta potential measurements. Ionic interactions between filler and polymer promote a uniform particle dispersion within the material. Self-healing experiments were performed at 80 °C and without the addition of further healing agents. Utilizing the magnetic properties induced by the iron oxide nanoparticles, spatially resolved healing within an alternating magnetic field was achieved on a μm scale.

Magnetic Nanoparticle Composites: Synergistic Effects and Applications

Composite materials are made from two or more constituent materials with distinct physical or chemical properties that, when combined, produce a material with characteristics which are at least to some degree different from its individual components. Nanocomposite materials are composed of different materials of which at least one has nanoscale dimensions. Common types of nanocomposites consist of a combination of two different elements, with a nanoparticle that is linked to, or surrounded by, another organic or inorganic material, for example in a core-shell or heterostructure configuration. A general family of nanoparticle composites concerns the coating of a nanoscale material by a polymer, SiO2 or carbon. Other materials, such as graphene or graphene oxide (GO), are used as supports forming composites when nanoscale materials are deposited onto them. In this Review we focus on magnetic nanocomposites, describing their synthetic methods, physical properties and applications. Several types of nanocomposites are presented, according to their composition, morphology or surface functionalization. Their applications are largely due to the synergistic effects that appear thanks to the co-existence of two different materials and to their interface, resulting in properties often better than those of their single-phase components. Applications discussed concern magnetically separable catalysts, water treatment, diagnostics-sensing and biomedicine.

Ultrasmall Downconverting Nanoparticle for Enhanced Cerenkov Imaging

Cerenkov imaging provides an opportunity to expand the application of approved radiotracers and therapeutic agents by utilizing them for optical approaches, which opens new avenues for nuclear imaging. The dominating Cerenkov radiation is in the UV/blue region, where it is readily absorbed by human tissue, reducing its utility in vivo. To solve this problem, we propose a strategy to shift Cerenkov light to the more penetrative red-light region through the use of a fluorescent down-conversion technique, based upon europium oxide nanoparticles. We synthesized square-shape ultrasmall Eu₂O₃ nanoparticles, functionalized with polyethylene glycol and chelate-free radiolabeled for intravenous injection into mice to visualize the lymph node and tumor. By adding trimethylamine N-oxide during the synthesis, we significantly increased the brightness of the particle and synthesized the (to-date) smallest radiolabeled europium-based nanoparticle. These features allow for the exploration of Eu₂O₃ nanoparticles as a preclinical cancer diagnosis platform with multimodal imaging capability.

Janus Graphene Oxide Sheets with Fe3O4 Nanoparticles and Polydopamine as Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

In this study, a one-step process to fabricate "Janus"-structured nanocomposites with iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs) and polydopamine (PDA) on each side of a graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet using the Langmuir-Schaefer technique has been proposed. The Fe₃O₄ NPs-GO hybrid is used as a high-capacity active material, while PDA is added as a binder due to its unique wet-resistant adhesive property. The transmission electron microscopy image shows a superlattice-like out-of-plane section of the multilayered nanocomposite, which maximizes the density of the composite materials. Grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering results combined with scanning electron microscopy images confirm that the multilayered Janus composite exhibits an in-plane hexagonal array structure of closely packed Fe₃O₄ NPs. This Janus multilayered structure is expected to maximize the amount of active material in a specific volume and reduce volume changes caused by the conversion reaction of Fe₃O₄ NPs. According to the electrochemical results, the Janus multilayer electrode delivers an excellent capacity of ∼903 mAh g^-1 at a current density of 200 mA g^-1 and a reversible capacity of ∼639 mAh g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 up to the 1800th cycle, indicating that this Janus composite can be a promising anode for Li-ion batteries.

Catalytic Enhancement of Inductively Heated Fe3 O4 Nanoparticles by Removal of Surface Ligands

Heat management in catalysis is limited by each material's heat transfer efficiencies, resulting in energy losses despite current thermal engineering strategies. In contrast, induction heating of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) generates heat at the surface of the catalyst where the reaction occurs, reducing waste heat via dissipation. However, the synthesis of magnetic NPs with optimal heat generation requires interfacial ligands, such as oleic acid, which act as heat sinks. Surface treatments using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) or pyridine are used to remove these ligands before applications in hydrophilic media. In this study, Fe₃ O₄ NPs are surface treated to study the effect of induction heating on the catalytic oxidation of 1-octanol. Whereas TMAOH was unsuccessful in removing oleic acid, pyridine treatment resulted in a roughly 2.5-fold increase in heat generation and product yield. Therefore, efficient surfactant removal has profound implications in induction heating catalysis by increasing the heat transfer and available surface sites.

Reversible Diels-Alder Reactions with a Fluorescent Dye on the Surface of Magnetite Nanoparticles

Diels–Alder reactions on the surface of nanoparticles allow a thermoreversible functionalization of the nanosized building blocks. We report the synthesis of well-defined magnetite nanoparticles by thermal decomposition reaction and their functionalization with maleimide groups. Attachment of these dienophiles was realized by the synthesis of organophosphonate coupling agents and a partial ligand exchange of the original carboxylic acid groups. The functionalized iron oxide particles allow a covalent surface attachment of a furfuryl-functionalized rhodamine B dye by a Diels–Alder reaction at 60 °C. The resulting particles showed the typical fluorescence of rhodamine B. The dye can be cleaved off the particle surface by a retro-Diels–Alder reaction. The study showed that organic functions can be thermoreversibly attached onto inorganic nanoparticles.

Versatile Surface Functionalization of Water-Dispersible Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Precisely Controlled Sizes

The synthesis of highly water-dispersible iron oxide nanoparticles with surface functional groups and precisely controlled sizes is essential for biomedical application. In this paper, we report a one-pot strategy for versatile surface functionalization. The iron oxide nanoparticles are first synthesized by thermal decomposition of iron(III) acetylacetonate (Fe(acac)₃) in diethylene glycol (DEG), and their surfaces are modified by adding the surface ligands at the end of the reaction. The size of iron oxide nanoparticles can be precisely controlled in nanometer scale by continuous growth. This facile synthesis method enables the surface modification with different coating materials such as dopamine (DOPA), polyethylene glycol with thiol end group (thiol-PEG), and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) onto the iron oxide nanoparticles, introducing new surface functionalities for future biomedical application. From transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the morphology and crystal structure are not changed during surface functionalization. The attachment of surface ligands is studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The surface functional groups are confirmed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). In correlation with the change of hydrodynamic size, PAA coated nanoparticles are found to exhibit outstanding stability in aqueous solution. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the functional groups are available for conjugating with other molecules such as fluorescent dye, showing potential biological applications. Lastly, the magnetic resonance phantom studies demonstrate that iron oxide nanoparticles with PAA coating can be used as T₁ and T₂ dual-modality contrast agents. Both r₁ and r₂ relaxivities significantly increase after surface functionalization with PAA, indicating improved sensitivity.

In Situ One-Pot Synthesis of Fe2O3@BSA Core-Shell Nanoparticles as Enhanced T1-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imagine Contrast Agents

Ultra-small-sized iron oxide nanoparticles with good biocompatibility are regarded as promising alternatives for the gadolinium-based contrast agents, which are widely used as a positive contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the current preparation of the iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles with small sizes usually involves organic solvents, increasing the complexity of hydrophilic ligand replacement and reducing the synthesis efficiency. It remains a great challenge to explore new iron oxide nanoparticles with good biocompatibility and a high T₁ contrast effect. Here, we reported a cage-like protein architecture self-assembled by approximately 6-7 BSA (bovine serum albumin) subunits. The BSA nanocage was then used as a biotemplate to synthesize uniformed and monodispersed Fe₂O₃@BSA nanoparticles with ultra-small sizes (∼3.5 nm). The Fe₂O₃@BSA nanoparticle showed a high r₁ value of 6.8 mM^-1 s^-1 and a low r₂/r₁ ratio of 10.6 at a 3 T magnetic field. Compared to Gd-DTPA, the brighter signal and prolonged angiographic effect of Fe₂O₃@BSA nanoparticles could greatly benefit steady-state and high-resolution imaging. The further in vivo and in vitro assessments of stability, toxicity, and renal clearance indicated a substantial potential as a T₁ contrast agent in preclinical MRI.

PEGylated Bilirubin-coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as a Biosensor for Magnetic Relaxation Switching-based ROS Detection in Whole Blood

Rationale: Magnetic relaxation switching (MRSw) induced by target-triggered aggregation or dissociation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been utilized for detection of diverse biomarkers. However, an MRSw-based biosensor for reactive oxygen species (ROS) has never been documented.

Methods: To this end, we constructed a biosensor for ROS detection based on PEGylated bilirubin (PEG-BR)-coated SPIONs (PEG-BR@SPIONs) that were prepared by simple sonication via ligand exchange. In addition, near infra-red (NIR) fluorescent dye was loaded onto PEG-BR@SPIONs as a secondary option for fluorescence-based ROS detection.

Results: PEG-BR@SPIONs showed high colloidal stability under physiological conditions, but upon exposure to the model ROS, NaOCl, in vitro, they aggregated, causing a decrease in signal intensity in T2-weighted MR images. Furthermore, ROS-responsive PEG-BR@SPIONs were taken up by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages to a much greater extent than ROS-unresponsive control nanoparticles (PEG-DSPE@SPIONs). In a sepsis-mimetic clinical setting, PEG-BR@SPIONs were able to directly detect the concentrations of ROS in whole blood samples through a clear change in T2 MR signals and a 'turn-on' signal of fluorescence.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that PEG-BR@SPIONs have the potential as a new type of dual mode (MRSw-based and fluorescence-based) biosensors for ROS detection and could be used to diagnose many diseases associated with ROS overproduction.

Mixed Ligand Shell Formation upon Catechol Ligand Adsorption on Hydrophobic TiO2 Nanoparticles

Modifying the surfaces of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) with monolayers of ligands provides a simple and direct method to generate multifunctional coatings by altering their surface properties. This works best if the composition of the monolayers can be controlled. Mussel-inspired, noninnocent catecholates stand out from other ligands like carboxylates and amines because they are redox-active and allow for highly efficient surface binding and enhanced electron transfer to the surface. However, a comprehensive understanding of their surface chemistry, including surface coverage and displacement of the native ligand, is still lacking. Here, we unravel the displacement of oleate (OA) ligands on hydrophobic, OA-stabilized TiO₂ NPs by catecholate ligands using a combination of one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques. Conclusive pictures of the ligand shells before and after surface modification with catecholate were obtained by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy (the ¹³C chemical shift being more sensitive and with a broader range). The data could be explained using a Langmuir-type approach. Gradual formation of a mixed ligand shell was observed, and the surface processes of catecholate adsorption and OA desorption were quantified. Contrary to the prevailing view, catecholate displaces only a minor fraction (∼20%) of the native OA ligand shell. At the same time, the total ligand density more than doubled from 2.3 nm^-2 at native oleate coverage to 4.8 nm^-2 at maximum catecholate loading. We conclude that the catecholate ligand adsorbs preferably to unoccupied Ti surface sites rather than replacing native OA ligands. This unexpected behavior, reminiscent of the Vroman effect for protein corona formation, appears to be a fundamental feature in the widely used surface modification of hydrophobic metal oxide NPs with catecholate ligands. Moreover, our findings show that ligand displacement on OA-capped TiO₂ NPs is not suited for a full ligand shell refunctionalization because it produces only mixed ligand shells. Therefore, our results contribute to a better understanding and performance of photocatalytic applications based on catecholate ligand-sensitized TiO₂ NPs.

Design Principles for Thermoresponsive Core-Shell Nanoparticles: Controlling Thermal Transitions by Brush Morphology

In this feature article, we summarize our recent work on understanding and controlling the thermal behavior of nanoparticles grafted with thermoresponsive polymer shells. Precision synthesis of monodisperse superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals was combined with irreversible dense grafting of nitrodopamide-anchored thermoresponsive polymer chains. We provide an overview of how the dense and stable grafting of biomedically relevant polymers, including poly(ethylene glycol), poly( N-isopropylacrylamide), polysarcosin, and polyoxazolines, can be achieved. This platform has made it possible for us to demonstrate that the polymer brush geometry, as defined by the nanoparticle core and relative polymer brush size, determines the thermal transitions of the polymer brush. We furthermore summarize our work on how the polymer shell transitions and nanoparticle aggregation can be tuned. With the independent variation of the core and the shell, we can optimize and precisely control the thermally controlled solubility of our system. Finally, our feature article gives examples relevant to current and future applications. We show how the thermal response of the shell influences the nanoparticle performance in biological fluids and interactions with proteins and cells, also under purely magnetic actuation of the nanoparticles through the superparamagnetic iron oxide core.

Characterization of the Ligand Exchange Reactions on CdSe/ZnS QDs by Capillary Electrophoresis

The continuous development of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) in biochemical research has attracted special attention, and surface functionalizing becomes more important to optimize their performance. Ligand exchange reactions are commonly used to modify the surface of QDs for their biomedical applications. However, the kinetics of ligand exchange for semiconductor QDs remain fully unexplored. Here, we describe a simple and rapid method to characterize the ligand exchange reactions on CdSe/ZnS QDs by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The results of ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the successful implementation of the ligand exchange process. The dynamics of ligand exchange of OA-coated CdSe/ZnS QDs with 4-mercaptobenzoic acid was monitored by CE, and the observed ligand exchange trends were fitted with logistic functions. When the ligand exchange reactions reached equilibrium, the ligand density of QDs can be quantified by CE. It is anticipated that CE will be a new powerful technique for quantitative analysis of the ligand exchange reactions on the surface of QDs.

Creating a synthetic platform for the encapsulation of nanocrystals with covalently bound polymer shells

We present a platform for the encapsulation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals (SPIONs) with a highly stable diblock copolymer shell allowing a homogeneous dispersion of the nanocrystals into a polymer matrix in the resulting nanocomposites. High polymer shell stability was achieved by crosslinking the inner polydiene shell for example in a persulfate based redox process. The advantage of this crosslinking reaction is the avoidance of heat and UV light for the initiation, making it suitable for heat or UV sensitive systems. In addition, we were able to minimize the ligand excess needed for the encapsulation and showcased a variation of molecular weight and composition as well as different ligands which lead to stable micelles. The encapsulated nanocrystals as well as the nanocomposite materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small angle scattering (SAXS and SANS).

Synthesis of Polystyrene-Coated Superparamagnetic and Ferromagnetic Cobalt Nanoparticles

Polystyrene-coated cobalt nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized through a dual-stage thermolysis of cobalt carbonyl (Co₂(CO)₈). The amine end-functionalized polystyrene surfactants with varying molecular weight were prepared via atom-transfer radical polymerization technique. By changing the concentration of these polymeric surfactants, Co NPs with different size, size distribution, and magnetic properties were obtained. Transmission electron microscopy characterization showed that the size of Co NPs stabilized with lower molecular weight polystyrene surfactants (Mn = 2300 g/mol) varied from 12⁻22 nm, while the size of Co NPs coated with polystyrene of middle (Mn = 4500 g/mol) and higher molecular weight (Mn = 10,500 g/mol) showed little change around 20 nm. Magnetic measurements revealed that the small cobalt particles were superparamagnetic, while larger particles were ferromagnetic and self-assembled into 1-D chain structures. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the grafting density of polystyrene with lower molecular weight is high. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to obtain both superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic Co NPs by changing the molecular weight and concentration of polystyrene through the dual-stage decomposition method.

Optimization of Iron Oxide Tracer Synthesis for Magnetic Particle Imaging

The optimization of iron oxide nanoparticles as tracers for magnetic particle imaging (MPI) alongside the development of data acquisition equipment and image reconstruction techniques is crucial for the required improvements in image resolution and sensitivity of MPI scanners. We present a large-scale water-based synthesis of multicore superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized with dextran (MC-SPIONs). We also demonstrate the preparation of single core superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in organic media, subsequently coated with a poly(ethylene glycol) gallic acid polymer and phase transferred to water (SC-SPIONs). Our aim was to obtain long-term stable particles in aqueous media with high MPI performance. We found that the amplitude of the third harmonic measured by magnetic particle spectroscopy (MPS) at 10 mT is 2.3- and 5.8-fold higher than Resovist for the MC-SPIONs and SC-SPIONs, respectively, revealing excellent MPI potential as compared to other reported MPI tracer particle preparations. We show that the reconstructed MPI images of phantoms using optimized multicore and specifically single-core particles are superior to that of commercially available Resovist, which we utilize as a reference standard, as predicted by MPS.

Purification technologies for colloidal nanocrystals

Almost all applications of colloidal nanocrystals require some type of purification or surface modification process following nanocrystal growth. Nanocrystal purification - the separation of nanocrystals from undesired solution components - can perturb the surface chemistry and thereby the physical properties of colloidal nanocrystals due to changes in solvent, solute concentrations, and exposure of the nanocrystal surface to oxidation or hydrolysis. For example, nanocrystal quantum dots frequently exhibit decreased photoluminescence brightness after precipitation from the growth solvent and subsequent redissolution. Consequently, purification is an integral part of the synthetic chemistry of colloidal nanocrystals, and the effect of purification methods must be considered in order to accurately compare and predict the behavior of otherwise similar nanocrystal samples. In this Feature Article we examine established and emerging approaches to the purification of colloidal nanoparticles from a nanocrystal surface chemistry viewpoint. Purification is generally achieved by exploiting differences in properties between the impurities and the nanoparticles. Three distinct properties are typically manipulated: polarity (relative solubility), electrophoretic mobility, and size. We discuss precipitation, extraction, electrophoretic methods, and size-based methods including ultracentrifugation, ultrafiltration, diafiltration, and size-exclusion chromatography. The susceptibility of quantum dots to changes in surface chemistry, with changes in photoluminescence decay associated with surface chemical changes, extends even into the case of core/shell structures. Accordingly, the goal of a more complete description of quantum dot surface chemistry has been a driver of innovation in colloidal nanocrystal purification methods. We specifically examine the effect of purification on surface chemistry and photoluminescence in quantum dots as an example of the challenges associated with nanocrystal purification and how improved understanding can result from increasingly precise techniques, and associated surface-sensitive analytical methods.

Acetate-Induced Disassembly of Spherical Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Clusters into Monodispersed Core-Shell Structures upon Nanoemulsion Fusion

It has been long known that the physical encapsulation of oleic acid-capped iron oxide nanoparticles (OA-IONPs) with the cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA+) surfactant induces the formation of spherical iron oxide nanoparticle clusters (IONPCs). However, the behavior and functional properties of IONPCs in chemical reactions have been largely neglected and are still not well-understood. Herein, we report an unconventional ligand-exchange function of IONPCs activated when dispersed in an ethyl acetate/acetate buffer system. The ligand exchange can successfully transform hydrophobic OA-IONP building blocks of IONPCs into highly hydrophilic, acetate-capped iron oxide nanoparticles (Ac-IONPs). More importantly, we demonstrate that the addition of silica precursors (tetraethyl orthosilicate and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane) to the acetate/oleate ligand-exchange reaction of the IONPs induces the disassembly of the IONPCs into monodispersed iron oxide-acetate-silica core-shell-shell (IONPs@acetate@SiO2) nanoparticles. Our observations evidence that the formation of IONPs@acetate@SiO2 nanoparticles is initiated by a unique micellar fusion mechanism between the Pickering-type emulsions of IONPCs and nanoemulsions of silica precursors formed under ethyl acetate buffered conditions. A dynamic rearrangement of the CTA+-oleate bilayer on the IONPC surfaces is proposed to be responsible for the templating process of the silica shells around the individual IONPs. In comparison to previously reported methods in the literature, our work provides a much more detailed experimental evidence of the silica-coating mechanism in a nanoemulsion system. Overall, ethyl acetate is proven to be a very efficient agent for an effortless preparation of monodispersed IONPs@acetate@SiO2 and hydrophilic Ac-IONPs from IONPCs.

The dendritic effect and magnetic permeability in dendron coated nickel and manganese zinc ferrite nanoparticles

The collective magnetic properties of nanoparticle (NP) solid films are greatly affected by inter-particle dipole-dipole interactions and therefore the proximity of the neighboring particles. In this study, a series of dendritic ligands (generations 0 to 3, G0-G3) have been designed and used to cover the surface of magnetic NPs to control the spacings between the NP components in single lattices. The dendrons of different generations introduced here were based on the 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (Bis-MPA) scaffold and equipped with an appropriate surface binding group at one end and several fatty acid segments at the other extremity. The surface of the NPs was then modified by partial ligand exchange between the primary stabilizing surfactants and the new dendritic wedges. It was shown that this strategy permitted very precise tuning of inter-particle spacings in the range of 2.9-5.0 nm. As expected, the increase in the inter-particle spacings reduced the dipole-dipole interactions between magnetic NPs and therefore allowed changes in their magnetic permeability. The dendron size and inter-particle distance dependence was studied to reveal the dendritic effect and identify the optimal geometry and generation.

Preparation and Self-Assembly of Dendronized Janus Fe3O4-Pt and Fe3O4-Au Heterodimers

Janus nanoparticles (NPs) often referred to as nanosized analogs of molecular surfactants are amphiphilic structures with potential applications in materials science, biomedicine, and catalysis, and their synthesis and self-assembly into complex architectures remain challenging. Here, we demonstrate the preparation of Janus heterodimers via asymmetric functionalization of Fe₃O₄-Pt and Fe₃O₄-Au heterodimeric NPs. The hydrophobic and hydrophilic dendritic ligands that carry phosphonic acid and disulfide surface binding groups selectively coat the iron oxide and platinum (or gold) parts of the heterodimer, respectively. Such an approach allows simple and efficient preparation of amphiphilic structures. Moreover, liquid-air interface self-assembly studies of each ligand exchange step revealed a drastic improvement in film crystallinity, suggesting the dendronization induced improvement of the whole particle polydispersity of the heterodimers.

Iron Oxide Surface Chemistry: Effect of Chemical Structure on Binding in Benzoic Acid and Catechol Derivatives

The excellent performance of functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) in nanomaterial and biomedical applications often relies on achieving the attachment of ligands to the iron oxide surface both in sufficient number and with proper orientation. Toward this end, we determine relationships between the ligand chemical structure and surface binding on magnetic IONPs for a series of related benzoic acid and catechol derivatives. Ligand exchange was used to introduce the model ligands, and the resultant nanoparticles were characterized using Fourier transform infrared-attenuated internal reflectance spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nanoparticle solubility behavior. An in-depth analysis of ligand electronic effects and reaction conditions reveals that the nature of ligand binding does not solely depend on the presence of functional groups known to bind to IONPs. The structure of the resultant ligand-surface complex was primarily influenced by the relative positioning of hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups within the ligand and whether or not HCl(aq) was added to the ligand-exchange reaction. Overall, this study will help guide future ligand-design and ligand-exchange strategies toward realizing truly custom-built IONPs.

Quantitative Measurement of Ligand Exchange with Small-Molecule Ligands on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles via Radioanalytical Techniques

Ligand exchange on the surface of hydrophobic iron oxide nanoparticles is a common method for controlling surface chemistry for a desired application. Furthermore, ligand exchange with small-molecule ligands may be necessary to obtain particles with a specific size or functionality. Understanding to what extent ligand exchange occurs and what factors affect it is important for the optimization of this critical procedure. However, quantifying the amount of exchange may be difficult because of the limitations of commonly used characterization techniques. Therefore, we utilized a radiotracer technique to track the exchange of a radiolabeled ¹⁴C-oleic acid ligand with hydrophilic small-molecule ligands on the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles. Iron oxide nanoparticles functionalized with ¹⁴C-oleic acid were modified with small-molecule ligands with terminal functional groups including catechols, phosphonates, sulfonates, thiols, carboxylic acids, and silanes. These moieties were selected because they represent the most commonly used ligands for this procedure. The effectiveness of these molecules was compared using both procedures widely found in the literature and using a standardized procedure. After ligand exchange, the nanoparticles were analyzed using liquid scintillation counting (LSC) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The labeled and unlabeled particles were further characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) to determine the particle size, hydrodynamic diameter, and zeta potential. The unlabeled particles were characterized via attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) to confirm the presence of the small molecules on the particles and verify the magnetic properties, respectively. Radioanalytical determination of ¹⁴C-oleic acid was used to calculate the total amount of oleic acid remaining on the surface of the particles after ligand exchange. The results revealed that the ligand-exchange reactions performed using widely cited procedures did not go to completion. Residual oleic acid remained on the particles after these reactions and the reactions using a standardized protocol. A comparison of the ligand-exchange procedures indicated that the binding moiety, multidenticity, reaction time, temperature, and presence of a catalyst impacted the extent of exchange. Quantification of the oleic acid remaining after ligand exchange revealed a binding hierarchy in which catechol-derived anchor groups displace the most oleic acid on the surface of the nanoparticles and the thiol group displaces the least amount of oleic acid. Thorough characterization of ligand exchange is required to develop nanoparticles suitable for their intended application.

Preparation of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (MIONs) with Improved Saturation Magnetization Using Multifunctional Polymer Ligand

This paper describes the preparation of ultra-small magnetic iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (MIONs) coated with water-soluble thioether end-functionalized polymer ligand pentaerythritol tetrakis 3-mercaptopropionate-polymethacrylic acid (PTMP-PMAA). The MIONs were prepared by co-precipitation of aqueous iron precursor solution at a high temperature. The polymer modified MIONs were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometery (VSM). It was found that these MIONs were successfully modified by this water-soluble polymer ligand with a fairly uniform size and narrow size distribution. The dried powder of MIONs could be stored for a long time and re-dispersed well in water without any significant change. Additionally, the polymer concentration showed a significant effect on size and magnetic properties of the MIONs. The saturation magnetization was increased by optimizing the polymer concentration. Furthermore, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-assay demonstrated that these MIONs were highly biocompatible and they could be successfully coupled with fluorescent dye Rhodamine due to the formation of amide bond between carboxylic acid groups of MIONs and amine groups of dye. The obtained results indicated that these multifunctional MIONs with rich surface chemistry exhibit admirable potential in biomedical applications.

Gel permeation chromatography as a multifunctional processor for nanocrystal purification and on-column ligand exchange chemistry

This article illustrates the use of gel permeation chromatography (GPC, organic-phase size exclusion chromatography) to separate nanocrystals from weakly-bound small molecules, including solvent, on the basis of size. A variety of colloidal inorganic nanocrystals of different size, shape, composition, and surface termination are shown to yield purified samples with greatly reduced impurity concentrations. Additionally, the method is shown to be useful in achieving a change of solvent without requiring precipitation of the nanocrystals. By taking advantage of the different rates at which small molecules and nanoparticles travel through the column, we show that it is furthermore possible to use the GPC column as a multi-functional flow reactor that can accomplish in sequence the steps of initial purification, ligand exchange with controlled reactant concentration and interaction time, and subsequent cleanup without requiring a change of phase. This example of process intensification via GPC is shown to yield nearly complete displacement of the initial surface ligand population upon reaction with small molecule and macromolecular reactants to form ligand-exchanged nanocrystal products.

Fabricating Water Dispersible Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications through Ligand Exchange and Direct Conjugation

Stable superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), which can be easily dispersed in an aqueous medium and exhibit high magnetic relaxivities, are ideal candidates for biomedical applications including contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. We describe a versatile methodology to render water dispersibility to SPIONs using tetraethylene glycol (TEG)-based phosphonate ligands, which are easily introduced onto SPIONs by either a ligand exchange process of surface-anchored oleic-acid (OA) molecules or via direct conjugation. Both protocols confer good colloidal stability to SPIONs at different NaCl concentrations. A detailed characterization of functionalized SPIONs suggests that the ligand exchange method leads to nanoparticles with better magnetic properties but higher toxicity and cell death, than the direct conjugation methodology.

Evaluation of High-Yield Purification Methods on Monodisperse PEG-Grafted Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Fundamental research on nanoparticle (NP) interactions and development of next-generation biomedical NP applications relies on synthesis of monodisperse, functional, core-shell nanoparticles free of residual dispersants with truly homogeneous and controlled physical properties. Still, synthesis and purification of e.g. such superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs remain a challenge. Comparing the success of different methods is marred by the sensitivity of analysis methods to the purity of the product. We synthesize monodisperse, oleic acid (OA)-capped, Fe3O4 NPs in the superparamagnetic size range (3-10 nm). Ligand exchange of OA for poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was performed with the PEG irreversibly grafted to the NP surface by a nitrodopamine (NDA) anchor. Four different methods were investigated to remove excess ligands and residual OA: membrane centrifugation, dialysis, size exclusion chromatography, and precipitation combined with magnetic decantation. Infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used to determine the purity of samples after each purification step. Importantly, only magnetic decantation yielded pure NPs at high yields with sufficient grafting density for biomedical applications (∼1 NDA-PEG(5 kDa)/nm(2), irrespective of size). The purified NPs withstand challenging tests such as temperature cycling in serum and long-term storage in biological buffers. Dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering show stability over at least 4 months also in serum. The successful synthesis and purification route is compatible with any conceivable functionalization for biomedical or biomaterial applications of PEGylated Fe3O4 NPs.

Probing the Structure, Composition, and Spatial Distribution of Ligands on Gold Nanorods

The structure and size of ligands attached to the surfaces of gold nanorods, such as adsorbed surfactants or grafted polymers, are important considerations that facilitate the use of such nanoparticles in the human body, in advanced materials for energy harvesting, or in devices for single molecule detection. Here, we report small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements from surfactant or poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) coated gold nanorods in solution, which quantitatively determine the location, structure, and composition of these surface layers. In addition, by synthesizing gold nanorods using seed crystals which are coated with deuterated cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (dCTAB), we are able to exploit the isotopic sensitivity of SANS to study, for the first time, the retention of surfactant from the seed crystals to the final gold nanorod product, finding that very little exchange of the deuterated with hydrogenated surfactant occurs. Finally, we demonstrate that, when Au NRs are PEGylated using standard techniques, the surfactant bilayer remains intact, and while mass spectrometry detects the presence of both surfactant and PEG, the composition as measured from SANS is predominantly that of the surfactant. These measurements not only provide new insight into the synthesis and functionalization of gold nanorods but provide a quantitative picture of the structure of grafted polymer and surfactant layers on gold nanorod surfaces which has implications for the fabrication of plasmonic and biomedical materials.

Synthesis and Magneto-Thermal Actuation of Iron Oxide Core-PNIPAM Shell Nanoparticles

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles have been proposed for many applications in biotechnology and medicine. In this paper, it is demonstrated how the excellent colloidal stability and magnetic properties of monodisperse and individually densely grafted iron oxide nanoparticles can be used to manipulate reversibly the solubility of nanoparticles with a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)nitrodopamine shell. "Grafting-to" and "grafting-from" methods for synthesis of an irreversibly anchored brush shell to monodisperse, oleic acid coated iron oxide cores are compared. Thereafter, it is shown that local heating by magnetic fields as well as global thermal heating can be used to efficiently and reversibly aggregate, magnetically extract nanoparticles from solution and spontaneously redisperse them. The coupling of magnetic and thermally responsive properties points to novel uses as smart materials, for example, in integrated devices for molecular separation and extraction.

Complete Exchange of the Hydrophobic Dispersant Shell on Monodisperse Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

High-temperature synthesized monodisperse superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are obtained with a strongly bound ligand shell of oleic acid and its decomposition products. Most applications require a stable presentation of a defined surface chemistry; therefore, the native shell has to be completely exchanged for dispersants with irreversible affinity to the nanoparticle surface. We evaluate by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC) the limitations of commonly used approaches. A mechanism and multiple exchange scheme that attains the goal of complete and irreversible ligand replacement on monodisperse nanoparticles of various sizes is presented. The obtained hydrophobic nanoparticles are ideally suited for magnetically controlled drug delivery and membrane applications and for the investigation of fundamental interfacial properties of ultrasmall core-shell architectures.

Core-Shell Structure of Monodisperse Poly(ethylene glycol)-Grafted Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Studied by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering

The promising applications of core-shell nanoparticles in the biological and medical field have been well investigated in recent years. One remaining challenge is the characterization of the structure of the hydrated polymer shell. Here we use small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to investigate iron oxide core-poly(ethylene glycol) brush shell nanoparticles with extremely high polymer grafting density. It is shown that the shell density profile can be described by a scaling model that takes into account the locally very high grafting density near the core. A good fit to a constant density region followed by a star-polymer-like, monotonously decaying density profile is shown, which could help explain the unique colloidal properties of such densely grafted core-shell nanoparticles. SAXS experiments probing the thermally induced dehydration of the shell and the response to dilution confirmed that the observed features are associated with the brush and not attributed to structure factors from particle aggregates. We thereby demonstrate that the structure of monodisperse core-shell nanoparticles with dense solvated shells can be well studied with SAXS and that different density models can be distinguished from each other.

Synthesis and application of glycoconjugate-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles as potent anti-adhesion agents for reducing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infections

Polyethylene oxide stabilized magnetic nanoparticles (PEO-MNPs) bio-functionalized with glycoconjugate (Neu5Ac(α2-3)Gal(β1-4)Glcβ-sp) (GM3-MNPs) are synthesized using click chemistry. Interaction of GM3-MNPs with Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strain K99 (EC K99) is investigated using different microscopic techniques. Our results suggest that GM3-MNPs can effectively act as non-antibiotic anti-adhesion agents for treating ETEC infections.

Quantum yield regeneration: influence of neutral ligand binding on photophysical properties in colloidal core/shell quantum dots

This article describes an experiment designed to identify the role of specific molecular ligands in maintaining the high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) observed in as-synthesized CdSe/CdZnS and CdSe/CdS quantum dots (QDs). Although it has been possible for many years to prepare core/shell quantum dots with near-unity quantum yield through high-temperature colloidal synthesis, purification of such colloidal particles is frequently accompanied by a reduction in quantum yield. Here, a recently established gel permeation chromatography (GPC) technique is used to remove weakly associated ligands without a change in solvent: a decrease in ensemble QY and average PL lifetime is observed. Minor components of the initial mixture that were removed by GPC are then added separately to purified QD samples to determine whether reintroduction of these components can restore the photophysical properties of the initial sample. We show that among these putative ligands trioctylphosphine and cadmium oleate can regenerate the initial high QY of all samples, but only the "L-type" ligands (trioctyphosphine and oleylamine) can restore the QY without changing the shapes of the optical spectra. On the basis of the PL decay analysis, we confirm that quenching in GPC-purified samples and regeneration in ligand-introduced samples are associated chiefly with changes in the relative population fraction of QDs with different decay rates. The reversibility of the QY regeneration process has also been studied; the introduction and removal of trioctylphosphine and oleylamine tend to be reversible, while cadmium oleate is not. Finally, isothermal titration calorimetry has been used to study the relationship between the binding strength of the neutral ligands to the surface and photophysical property changes in QD samples to which they are added.