R

ES

EARCH LA B

AL

NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY

R
AT

NAV

ORY

AS

HINGTO

N,

Advantages/Features Water solubility and lack of aggregation Very stable over broad acidic to basic range (pH 4-11) and for long time-periods (months) Access to multiple bioconjugation chemistries (EDC, metal-affinity) Particle sizes with small hydrodynamic radii Incorporates a polyethylene glycol group for optimal biocompatibility Applications Research reagents Biosensing and bioimaging Drug discovery Cell delivery Nanotechnology For more information contact: Rita Manak, Ph.D. Head, Technology Transfer Office 202 767-3083 rita.manak@nrl.navy.mil Identification Number: SEN35

MODULAR LIGANDS FOR CUSTOM FUNCTIONALIZED NANOPARTICLES

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has developed a chemical means of providing custom functionalization of both semiconductor core/shell quantum dots (QDs) and gold nanoparticles. A series of modular ligands have been synthesized that provide multiple functionalities to the nanoparticles, as desired, including water solubility, tight anchoring to the nanoparticle surface and access to a variety of different terminal functional groups for subsequent (bio)modification and covalent attachment. Amongst the unique characteristics afforded by the ligands are the abilities to remain stable, aggregate free and/or luminescent in a wide pH range and high salt concentrations over extended periods of time. This improves the shelf life and utility of custom nanoparticles and conjugates based upon this chemistry for biosensing and bioimaging applications.
References "Poly(ethylene glycol)-Based Bidentate Ligands to Enhance Quantum Dot and Gold Nanoparticle Stability in Biological Media," Nature Protocols 4 (2009) 412-423. "Modular Poly(ethylene-glycol) Ligands for Biocompatible Semiconductor and Gold Nanocrystals with Extended pH and Ionic Stability," Journal of Materials Chemistry 18 (2008) 4949-4958. "Enhancing the Stability and Biological Functionalities of Quantum Dots via Compact Multifunctional Ligands," Journal of the American Chemical Society 129 (2007)13987-13996. Available for License: US Patent Nos. 6,921,496; 7,361,516; 7,470,379; 7,648,843; 7,858,386; 8,034,259 and US Patent Pub. Nos. 2009-0159842; 2009-0272913; 2010-0075361; 2010-0267967; 2011-0089241; 2011-0097797; and 2011-0098445. Other related applications have been filed.

ES

EARCH LA

BO

AL

AT

NAV

ORY

technology

AS

HING TON,