Issue 72, 2015

Fabrication and properties of a supramolecular hybrid hydrogel doped with CdTe quantum dots

Abstract

Fluorescent hydrogels incorporated with photoluminescent nanomaterials have achieved promising progress in bio-sensing or bio-labeling, yet the current techniques mostly rely on chemically cross-linking the hydrogel which involves undesirable chemical reactions that may easily disturb the incorporated nanomaterials. In this work, the fabrication of a fluorescent supramolecular hydrogel doped with semiconductor CdTe quantum dots (QDs) is demonstrated. The colloidal QDs were stabilized with synthetic amphiphilic block copolymer, mercaptan-ended poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ε-caprolactone). The stability and fluorescent properties of the resultant colloidal QDs were evaluated. A fluorescent supramolecular hydrogel was fabricated based on the host–guest self-assembly between the amphiphilic block copolymer on the QD surface and added cyclic oligosaccharide host molecule, α-cyclodextrin (α-CD). The resultant photoluminescent hydrogel was characterized with rheology and X-ray diffraction, as well as photoluminescence spectra measurements. The gelation kinetics and mechanical strength of the supramolecular hydrogel can be modulated by changing the amount of the amphiphilic block copolymer, α-CD, used or the incorporated QDs. These results suggest new opportunities for developing biocompatible optical materials with tunable fluorescent properties and mechanical properties.

Graphical abstract: Fabrication and properties of a supramolecular hybrid hydrogel doped with CdTe quantum dots

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 May 2015
Accepted
01 Jul 2015
First published
01 Jul 2015

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 58746-58754

Author version available

Fabrication and properties of a supramolecular hybrid hydrogel doped with CdTe quantum dots

X. Xie, D. Ma and L. Zhang, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 58746 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA09386D

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