Nature Protocols 10, 859 (2015)
Preparation of compact biocompatible quantum dots using multicoordinating molecular-scale ligands based on a zwitterionic hydrophilic motif and lipoic acid anchors
Naiqian Zhan, Goutam Palui, Hedi Mattoussi.
To be useful for biological assays, quantum dots need to be made soluble and stable in biologically relevant matrices. In this protocol, a ligand containing a lipoic acid–zwitterion moiety capable of photoligation to the quantum dot is used.