The utility of dendrimers as effective carriers for targeted drug delivery and imaging has been facilitated by a high degree of molecular uniformity, narrow molecular weight distribution, tunable size and shape characteristics, and multivalency. Dendrimer–quantum dot (QD) nanocomposites have traditionally been synthesised by electrostatic self-assembly of preformed dendrimers and QDs, but higher generations are associated with limited flexibility and increased cytotoxicity. In this paper, we report the fabrication of CdTe QD nanoparticles using a dendronised linear copolymer bearing thiolated fourth-generation poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrons as the capping and stabilising agent. We demonstrate this approach enables synthesis of nanocomposites with aqueous and photophysical stability.

由于高度的分子均匀性，较窄的分子量分布，可调的尺寸和形状特征以及多价，促进了树状聚合物作为靶向药物递送和成像的有效载体的实用性。传统上通过预制的树枝状聚合物和QD的静电自组装合成树枝状聚合物-量子点（QD）纳米复合材料，但是更高的世代与有限的柔韧性和增加的细胞毒性有关。在本文中，我们报道了使用以巯基化的第四代聚（酰胺基胺）（PAMAM）树突为封端和稳定剂的树突化线性共聚物制备CdTe QD纳米颗粒的方法。我们证明了这种方法能够合成具有水和光物理稳定性的纳米复合材料。