Using the power of organic synthesis for engineering the interactions of nanoparticles with biological systems

•Surface properties are a key determinant of the biological properties of nanomaterials.•Organic synthesis provides atom-by-atom control over nanomaterial surfaces.•The control of nanoparticle surfaces is an important tool for the creation of diagnostics and therapeutics.

SummaryThe surface properties of nanoparticles (NPs) dictate their interaction with the outside world. The use of precisely designed molecular ligands to control NP surface properties provides an important toolkit for modulating their interaction with biological systems, facilitating their use in biomedicine. In this review we will discuss the application of the atom-by-atom control provided by organic synthesis to the generation of engineered nanoparticles, with emphasis on how the functionalization of NPs with these “small” organic molecules (Mw <1000) can be used to engineer NPs for a wide range of applications.

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