Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 3.4
TEM and DLS of carboxyl-functionalized PEGylated IOMNPs.
Courtesy of
Ocean NanoTech. (For color version of this figure, the reader is referred to the online version of
this topic)
3.3 NM BIOCONJUGATION
In order to be useful in various specific medical applications, the hydrophilic
water-soluble NMs need to be functionalized in order to load the biomolecules
of interest. Water-soluble functionalized NMs have the necessary bioreceptors to
carry the activity that it is intended for. The bioreceptors include proteins, DNA,
lipids, carbohydrates, or parts of or whole microorganisms.
103
Various NMs such
as QDs, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), metal NPs (gold, silver, and silica), metal
oxides, and semiconductor and polymer nanowires attached to bioreceptors make
them useful for various medical applications.
103,104
The NMs are functionalized
with biocompatible materials to allow for selective and specific interactions
with biomolecules that are unique to each NM application. Functionalization of
NMs is also essential to facilitate self-assembly and nanopatterning on solid sur-
faces. Biocompatible-functionalized NMs may be used for medical diagnostics,
imaging, single or multiple drug delivery, theranostics, and many more.
New developments include water-based synthesis methods for NMs
23,105
that yield particles emitting from the visible to the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum.
