Nanoparticle Surface Functionalization-Epoxidation Modification

Epoxidation is a chemical reaction, usually referred to as epoxidation. This reaction involves adding an epoxy group (a three-membered epoxy structure) to the molecular structure of an organic molecule to form an epoxy compound. The epoxy group consists of one oxygen atom and two carbon atoms, which form an unstable ring structure with a high degree of strain energy and are therefore prone to ring-opening reactions.

Introduction to Nanoparticle Surface Epoxidation

Nanoparticle Surface epoxidation is a chemical treatment method used to modify the surface of nanoparticles. During this process, epoxy groups are introduced to the surface of the nanoparticles, which can react with other substances to change the properties and functionality of the nanoparticles. This approach typically involves contacting molecules containing epoxy groups with nanoparticles to achieve surface modification.

Figure 1. Schematic diagram of nanoparticles with Epoxidation.

The main purposes of surface epoxidation of nanoparticles include increasing the stability of nanoparticles, improving their dispersion, increasing their interaction with other substances, and regulating their surface charge properties. This chemical modification can be applied to various nanoparticles, such as metal nanoparticles, oxide nanoparticles, and carbon nanoparticles.

The specific features of nanoparticle surface epoxidation include:

• Introduction of surface functional groups: This treatment method introduces functional groups to the surface of nanoparticles by introducing epoxy groups on the surface of nanoparticles, thereby changing their surface properties.
• Improve dispersion: The introduction of epoxy groups can increase the dispersion of nanoparticles, making it easier to disperse evenly in different solvents and reducing the tendency of agglomeration.
• Changes in surface activity: Epoxidation can adjust the surface charge properties of nanoparticles and change their interactions with other substances, such as their role in catalysis, adsorption, and chemical reactions.
• Improved stability: Epoxidation treatment can increase the stability of nanoparticles and reduce aggregation and precipitation under unstable conditions.
• Improved biocompatibility: For biomedical applications, epoxidation can improve the compatibility of nanoparticles with tissues or cells in vivo, helping drug delivery and imaging applications.
• Enhanced reactivity: The introduction of epoxy groups can improve the surface reactivity of nanoparticles, making them more active in the fields of catalysis, sensing, and chemical synthesis.

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• Epoxidant treatment method: This is one of the most common methods. Nanoparticles are often contacted with a solution or gas containing an epoxidizing agent to introduce epoxy groups on the surface of the nanoparticles. For example, oxygen or ethylene oxide can be used for the oxidation of metal nanoparticles.
• Chemical reduction method: Reduce compounds containing epoxy groups into free radicals, and then react them with nanoparticles to achieve the introduction of epoxy groups. This method is often used in organic synthesis, for example using boron trioxide as a reducing agent.
• Surface Modifiers: There are molecules that can introduce epoxy groups by adsorbing on the surface of nanoparticles. These molecules often have side chains with epoxy functional groups that can react with the nanoparticle surface.
• Plasma Treatment: Plasma treatment is a high-energy method that can introduce epoxy groups without the use of chemical oxidants. Under the action of plasma, organic matter on the surface of nanoparticles can be cut into hydrocarbon groups, and then epoxy groups are introduced through oxygen or other oxidizing gases.
• Microwave radiation method: Microwave radiation can accelerate chemical reactions and therefore can be used to accelerate epoxidation reactions. By treating solutions containing nanoparticles under microwave irradiation, epoxy groups can be introduced faster.
• Electrochemical methods: Electrochemistry can also be used to introduce epoxy groups. In an electrochemical cell, nanoparticles serve as electrodes. At an appropriate potential, organic matter in the electrolyte can react with the surface of the nanoparticles to introduce epoxy groups.

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References

1. Thomsen T, Klok HA. Chemical Cell Surface Modification and Analysis of Nanoparticle-Modified Living Cells. ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2021, 4(3):2293-2306.
2. Haidar LL, et al.; Surface Bio-engineered Polymeric Nanoparticles. Small. 2024, 20(21): e2310876.