Bioorthogonal conjugation of NIR luminescent gold nanoclusters with multifunctional polymers: insights into binding efficiency, kinetics, and optical properties.

ABSTRACT: The bioorthogonal reactivity of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) with macromolecules such as polymers is strongly influenced by their physicochemical parameters, which govern both reaction selectivity and kinetics. Using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), we demonstrate that the strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) reaction between azide-functionalized AuNCs and dibenzyl cyclooctyne (DBCO)-functionalized polymers in aqueous environments is highly specific yet proceeds at a relatively slow rate. Under diluted conditions (μM range), this reaction occurs predominantly at the level of individual nanoclusters, resulting in surface functionalization without extensive network formation. Optical characterization studies reveal a temperature- and concentration

SUBMITTER: Abdul Rezak F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12447756 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature