30 September 2020 2 8K Report

Hi,

The aim of this project is to attach a lanthanide chelate onto the surface of a polymeric nanoparticle that is encapsulated with polystyrene maleic anhydride (the anhydride hydrolysis in water to give the corresponding carboxylic acids). I tried using the ubiquitous EDC coupling reaction with the amine one the chelate coupling to the COOH, but to no avail.

Some more information: When adding EDC I observe significant aggregation although the extent of aggregation can be reduced following the addition of sulfo-NHS. Interestingly, when I only add the chelate (no edc or sulfo nhs), the NPs also aggregate. Lastly, the rate of mixing (stirring Vs mixing) also affects aggregation (could mean that the chelate reducers the colloidal stability).

I'm fairly new to this so not sure what to make of this? I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on how to achieve the coupling and how to optimise it.

Ps. The lanthanide chelate has an amine that will be coupled to the nanoparticle via the surface expose cooh groups.

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