Synthesis of super bright indium phosphide colloidal quantum dots through thermal diffusion

Indium phosphide based quantum dots have emerged in recent years as alternatives to traditional heavy metal (cadmium, lead) based materials suitable for biomedical application due to their non-toxic nature. The major barrier to this application, is their low photoluminescent quantum yield in aqueous environments (typically < 5%). Here we present a synthetic method for InP/ZnS quantum dots, utilizing a controlled cooling step for equilibration of zinc sulfide across the core, resulting in a photoluminescent quantum yield as high as 85% in organic solvent and 57% in aqueous media. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest reported for indium phosphide quantum dots. DFT calculations reveal the enhancement in quantum yield is achieved by redistribution of zinc sulfide across the indium phosphide core through thermal diffusion. By eliminating the need for a glove box and relying on Schlenk line techniques, we introduce a widely accessible method for quantum dots with a realistic potential for improved biomedical applications

Novel imaging chelates for drug discovery

The introduction of organic frameworks designed to coordinate metal ions or chelates to medical imaging has allowed for significant breakthroughs in the identification of many disease states. These identified disease states such as cancerous, cardiovascular and neurological, which provide excellent targets for novel drugs, and without the imaging chelates would certainly not have been discovered. In this article we will present a series of novel imaging chelates that have influenced drug discovery. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd

Changing the local coordination environment in mono- and bi- nuclear lanthanide complexes through "click" chemistry.

Alkyne appended lanthanide complexes derived from DO3A undergo copper catalysed cycloaddition reactions with azides to form triazole appended complexes: coordination of one of the triazole nitrogen atoms to the metal centre changes the local coordination environment and the spectroscopic properties of the complex