Patent ID: 7413770

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a water soluble metallic nanoparticle coated with a mixed monolayer comprising: a) providing; i) a metal salt ii) a short chain ethylene glycol oligomer shielding component having metal binding functionality; iii) a capture coating component having metal binding functionality and having an affinity for a capture moiety; iv) a suitable reducing agent; and v) a mixed solvent comprising at least one substantially water miscible organic solvent and at least one aqueous solvent wherein the mixed solvent is at a pH of less than 7.0; b) mixing elements (i)-(iv) in the mixed solvent of (v) to form a reaction mixture, wherein a mixed monolayer forms on the metallic nanoparticle; and c) optionally isolating the mixed monolayer coated metal nanoparticle of (b); wherein the metallic nanoparticle is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, and alloys composed of these metals.