The effect of PEG functionalization on the in vivo behavior and toxicity of CdTe quantum dots

CdTe quantum dots (QDs) are considered a potential toxic substance because they contain metal ions.

Solid-state mechanochemical ω-functionalization of poly(ethylene glycol)

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is a linear polymer with a wide range of applications in chemical manufacturing, drug development and nanotechnology. PEG derivatives are being increasingly used to covalently modify small molecule and peptide drugs, as well as bioactive nanomaterials in order to improve solubility in biological serum, reduce immunogenicity, and enhance pharmacokinetic profiles. Herein we present the development of mechanochemical procedures for PEG functionalization without the need for bulk solvents, offering a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to existing solution-based PEG procedures. The herein presented mechanochemical procedures enable rapid and solvent-free derivatization of PEG with tosyl, bromide, thiol, carboxylic acid or amine functionalities in good to quantitative yields and with no polymer chain oligomerization, proving the versatility of the method.

Characterization of carbon-coated magnetic nanoparticles using clinical blood coagulation assays: effect of PEG-functionalization and comparison to silica nanoparticles

We use point-of-care-assays to study blood coagulation in human blood samples exposed to nanomagnets.