FUNCTIONALIZED ULTRABRIGHT FLUORESCENT SILICA PARTICLES

摘要

A method for synthesizing ultrabright fluorescent silica particles with hydrophilic functional groups, comprising the steps of: (i) forming a first mixture comprising a plurality of nano-sized silica particles and a gelation agent; (ii) forming a second mixture by combining the first mixture with a surfactant, a plurality of fluorescent dye molecules, and water, wherein fluorescent dye molecules are encapsulated within a plurality of pores of the nano-sized silica particles; (iii) forming a third mixture by adding a co-source of silica to the second mixture, wherein the co-source of silica prevents leakage of the encapsulated fluorescent dye molecules from the pores of the nano-sized silica particles and provides hydrophilic functional groups to the silica particles while preserving the fluorescence of the silica particles; (iv) optional further functionalization of the obtained nanoparticles with functional molecules, exemplified by carboxylic groups and folic acid, and (v) removing excess fluorescent dye from the third mixture.

主权项

1. A method for synthesizing ultrabright fluorescent silica particles with hydrophilic functional groups, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a first mixture comprising a silica precursor and a gelation agent; forming a second mixture by combining the first mixture with a surfactant, a plurality of fluorescent dye molecules, and water, wherein fluorescent dye molecules are encapsulated within a plurality of pores of the silica; forming a third mixture by adding a co-source of silica to the second mixture, wherein the co-source of silica prevents leakage of the encapsulated fluorescent dye molecules from the pores of the silica particles and provides hydrophilic functional groups to the silica particles while preserving the fluorescence of the silica particles; and removing excess fluorescent dye from the third mixture.