Rendering hydrophobic nanoclusters water-soluble and biocompatible.

ABSTRACT: Hydrophobic and hydrophilic nanoclusters embody complementary superiorities. The means to amalgamate these superiorities, i.e., the atomic precision of hydrophobic clusters and the water dissolvability of hydrophilic clusters, remains challenging. This work presents a versatile strategy to render hydrophobic nanoclusters water-soluble-the micellization of nanoclusters in the presence of solvent-conjoined Na⁺ cations-which overcomes the above major challenge. Specifically, although [Ag₂₉(SSR)₁₂(PPh₃)₄]^3- nanoclusters are absolutely hydrophobic, they show good dissolvability in aqueous solution in the presence of solvent-conjoined Na⁺ cations (Na₁(NMP)₅ or Na₃(DMF)₁₂

SUBMITTER: Kang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8159227 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature