Zwitterionic nanoparticles

Abstract

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a composition, a method of binding a zwitterionic nanoparticle and the use of a zwitterionic nanoparticle.

1 . A zwitterionic nanoparticle comprising at least one nanoparticle and a zwitterionic case comprising a long chain zwitterionic ligand, which case encloses the nanoparticle;
 wherein the zwitterionic ligand is described by the formula:
   A-X-[L 1 -Z 1 -L 2 -Z 2 ] n , 
 wherein A is optionally a group having affinity for a surface of the nanoparticle or is an at least divalent atom capable of forming a covalent bond to the nanoparticle; 
 L 1  and L 2  are mutually independent linker groups; 
 X is an optional branching element such that X has, in addition to the bond to A, at least one further bond to L 1 ; 
 n comprises the integers between 1 and a maximum valence of X-1; 
 Z 1  includes a first charged or ionizable group; and 
 Z 2  includes a second charged or ionizable group, provided that they are opposite in case Z 1  or Z 2  carry charges. 
   
     
     
         2 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle is one or more of a luminescent, magnetic, and plasmonic nanoparticle. 
     
     
         3 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle contains at least one active substance molecule. 
     
     
         4 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle is a semiconductor nanoparticle. 
     
     
         5 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 4 , wherein the nanoparticle is doped with heavy metal ions including one of Ag, Cu, Co and Mn. 
     
     
         6 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle is a lanthanide-doped nanoparticles having salt-like host lattices. 
     
     
         7 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle is a metallic nanoparticle or consists of a metal oxide. 
     
     
         8 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 1 , wherein the structure of the nanoparticle is described by the formula M w N x A y B z , wherein M and N are independently selected from elements of groups 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 of a Periodic Table of Elements, including one of Fe, Co, Ni, Pt, Cu, Zn, Cd, Al, Ga, In, Ge, Sn, and Pb, and wherein A and B are independently selected from the elements 10, 11, 13, 15 or 16 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, including one of Pd, Pt, N, P, As, Sb, Ga, O, S, Se, and Te, and wherein w, x, y and z can independently attain integer multiples of a value between 0 and 1, provided that a total positive charge of cationic elements in the nanoparticle is opposite and equal to a negative charge of anionic elements of the nanoparticle. 
     
     
         9 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle of  claim 8 , wherein the nanoparticle is surrounded by at least one shell. 
     
     
         10 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 9 , wherein a composition of the at least one shell includes O s C t D u  O1CzD1-z, wherein O is independently selected from elements of groups 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, including Fe, Co, Ni, Pt, Cu, Zn, Cd, Al, Ga, In, Ge, Sn, and Pb, and C and D are independently selected from the elements 10, 11, 15 or 16 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, including Pd, Pt, N, P, As, Sb, O, S, Se, and Te, and wherein s, t, and u can independently attain integer multiples of a value between 0 and 1, provided that the total positive charge of cationic elements is opposite and equal to the negative charge of the anionic elements and that the compositions of M w , N x , A y , B z  and O s , C t , D u  are different. 
     
     
         11 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 1 , wherein A is selected from the group consisting of C, N, O, S, P or Si, wherein at least one amino, mercapto, dithiocarbamate, carboxy, phosphate, phosphonate group is provided. 
     
     
         12 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 1 , wherein L 1  and L 2  are mutually independent linear or branched, optionally saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chains having one to forty carbon atoms, optionally containing heteroatoms from the group consisting of N, O, P, Si and S. 
     
     
         13 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 1 , wherein the zwitterionic nanoparticle is bound to at least one biological molecule, wherein the biological molecule is a glycosylated protein. 
     
     
         14 . The zwitterionic nanoparticle according to  claim 1 , wherein the zwitterionic nanoparticle is encapsulated by a micelle.