title: Multicolor core/shell silica nanoparticles for in vivo and ex vivo imaging.
abstract: Biocompatible highly bright silica nanoparticles were designed, prepared and tested in small living organisms for both in vivo and ex vivo imaging. The results that we report here demonstrate that they are suitable for optical imaging applications as a possible alternative to commercially available fluorescent materials including quantum dots. Moreover, the tunability of their photophysical properties, which was enhanced by the use of different dyes as doping agents, constitutes a very important added value in the field of medical diagnostics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rampazzo
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boschi
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonacchi
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Juris
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montalti
authors.forename: Nelsi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaccheroni
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prodi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calderan
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Becchi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sbarbati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D012822:Silicon Dioxide