Bright fluorescent nanoparticles for developing potential optical imaging contrast agents.
Fluorescent cross-linked nanoparticles with variable fluorophore loading amounts, locations, and particle sizes were synthesized from sequential one-pot functionalization/cross-linking of block copolymer micelles with amine-terminated dye and cross-linker molecules, via reductive amination and amidation. The fluorescence quantum yield and brightness of these nanoparticles were evaluated by steady-state and dynamic fluorescence methods. The results demonstrate that the quantum yield and brightness of the fluorescent nanoparticles correlated directly with the number of dyes/nanoparticle and the nanoparticle size. A strategy to increase the fluorescence brightness of nanoparticles with fluorescein and near-infrared dyes is proposed.
Sun
Guorong
G
Department of Chemistry, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Berezin
Mikhail Y
MY
Fan
Jinda
J
Lee
Hyeran
H
Ma
Jun
J
Zhang
Ke
K
Wooley
Karen L
KL
Achilefu
Samuel
S
D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011789:Quantum Theory
D003287:Contrast Media; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008823:Micelles