We present the preparation and the characterization of the solution behavior and functional properties of superparamagnetic and/or fluorescent, thermo-responsive inorganic/organic hybrid particles with an intermediate protective silica shell and a smart polymer corona. These well-defined multifunctional nanogels were prepared via two consecutive encapsulation processes of superparamagnetic Fe(2...

The luminescence of inorganic core-shell semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs) can be tuned across much of the visible spectrum by changing the size of the QDs while preserving a spectral full width at half maximum (FWHM) as narrow as 30 nm and photoluminescence efficiency of 50% [Journal of Physical Chemistry B 101 (46) (1997) 9463] [1]. Organic capping groups, surrounding the QD lumoph...

During the last decades of nanoparticles research, many nanomaterials have been developed for applications in the field of bio-labelling. For the visualization of transport processes in the body, organs and cells, luminescent quantum dots (QDs) make for highly useful diagnostic tools. However, intercellular routes, bio-distribution, metabolism during degradation or quantification of the excreti...

We report the development and application of an analytical system consisting of capillary electrophoresis (CE) interfaced with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for sensitive and high-resolution characterization of quantum dots (QDs) interacting with serum proteins. Separation resolution between the intact CdSeS/ZnS QDs and their protein conjugates was optimized by varying t...

The kinetics and thermodynamics of structural transformations under pressure depend strongly on particle size due to the influence of surface free energy. By suitable design of surface structure, composition, and passivation it is possible, in principle, to prepare nanocrystals in structures inaccessible to bulk materials. However, few realizations of such extreme size-dependent behavior exist....