Polymer‐Grafted Silicon Nanoparticles Obtained Either via Peptide Bonding or Click Chemistry

AbstractPegylated silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) are of great interest for applications in bio‐imaging as fluorescent tracers. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) covalently attached to SiNPs may improve the (bio)compatibility, solubility in water and stability of SiNPs, without inhibiting their optical properties. SiNPs are first coated with silica followed by a silanization of the surface. Then, two versatile “grafting to” methods are used to provide pegylated SiNPs. Both peptide type coupling and copper(I)‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) are conducted and compared to graft PEG of different chain lengths. Infra‐red spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and transmission electron microscopy prove that theses methodologies are simple and efficient for the preparation of functional inorganic nanoparticles with luminescent properties.