Introduction
Functionalization is the introduction of small molecules or polymers on the surface of nanomaterials. Combining these molecules on the surface of nanoparticles, can obtain hybrid materials with novel properties and functions. The surface coating of nanomaterials determines many of their physical and chemical properties, notably stability, solubility, and targeting functions. Therefore, surface functionalization of metallic nanoparticles will greatly expand the range of applications of these materials.
Fig 1 Functionalized Nanomaterials
Application
Functionalized nanomaterial-based catalysts can be used for catalysis of many known organic reactions, such as hydrogenation, dehalogenation, organic redox and C-C coupling reactions. For biological applications, the surface coating should give high aqueous solubility and prevent nanoparticle aggregation. Nanoparticles can be linked to biological molecules that can act as address tags, to direct the nanoparticles to specific sites within the body.
Nanomaterials are currently becoming commercialized and beginning to emerge as commodities. If you do not find what you need please contact us.
Functionalized gold nanorods (GNR)
As a type of representative commodities, functionalization gold nanorods (GNR) have been widely used in biomedical field due to their unique optical properties and excellent biocompatibility. Surface functionalization methods of gold nanorods includes the modification with inorganics materials，metallic materials, surfactants，organic small molecules and macromolecules.
For example, a novel technology reported by Mohammad et al. is functionalization gold nanorods (GNRs) allowing for in vivo targeting of breast cancer tumors grown in athymic nude mice. GNRs were functionalized by covalent attachment of Herceptin (HER), a monoclonal antibody that enables molecular recognition of breast cancer cells expressing highly specific tumor associated antigens (Fig 2).
Fig 2 The GNR was attached covalently to Herceptin.
(Nano Lett. 2009, Vol.9, No.1 287-291)
