摘要 |
<p>A general, facile, and reversible nanocrystal (NCs) phase transfer protocol via ligand exchange using nucleotides and/or nucleosides is provided to generate reversibly water-soluble nanocrystals. This phase transfer strategy can be employed on a wide variety of chemically synthesized nanostructured materials including semiconductors, metal oxides and noble metals with different sizes and shapes. The nucleotide/nucleoside-capped nanocrystals can disperse homogeneously in aqueous or alcohol media retaining, for example, high photoluminescence quantum yields. The disclosed water-soluble nanocrystals have excellent colloidal and photoluminescent stability independent on the pH and ionic strength, minimal hydrodynamic size, and are stable in cells and suitable for in vitro cell labeling, cell tracking, and other bioimaging applications.</p> |