The present disclosure provides quantum dots and methods of making the quantum dots comprising a substantially homogeneous population of monomeric nanocrystals, of a very small size, about 7 nm to about 12 nm in diameter. The method comprises mixing a nanocrystal coated with weakly binding ligands or ions with a polymer in a solution and incubating at a temperature greater than about 100° C., thereby forming a quantum dot having a substantially homogenous population of monomeric nanocrystals. The quantum dots can be further conjugated to bioaffinity molecules, enabling broad utilization of compact, biofunctional quantum dots for studying crowded macromolecular environments.