The slowing-down of the dynamics of a polymer chain near a surface has been observed for many years now. Here we show that the behavior of model nanocomposites can be quantitatively described with a gradient of glass-transition temperature. We describe with a single parameter-the range of this gradient-the temperature and solvent effect on the spin relaxation dynamics. Moreover, this parameter allows a quantitative description of the nanocomposite calorimetric response from the one of the bulk polymer.

High colloidal stability in aqueous conditions is a prerequisite for fluorescent nanocrystals, otherwise known as "quantum dots", intended to be used in any long-term bioimaging experiment. This essential property implies a strong affinity between the nanoparticles themselves and the ligands they are coated with. To further improve the properties of the bidentate monozwitterionic ligand previously developed in our team, we synthesized a multidentate polyzwitterionic ligand, issued from the copolymerization of a bidentate monomer and a monozwitterionic one. The nanocrystals passivated by this polymeric ligand showed an exceptional colloidal stability, regardless of the medium conditions (pH, salinity, dilution, and biological environment), and we demonstrated the affinity of the polymer exceeded by 3 orders of magnitude that of the bidentate ligand (desorption rates assessed by a competition experiment). The synthesis of the multidentate polyzwitterionic ligand proved also to be easily tunable and allowed facile functionalization of the corresponding quantum dots, which led to successful specific biomolecules targeting.