title: Photoluminescent biocompatible silicon nanoparticles for cancer theranostic applications.
abstract: Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) obtained by mechanical grinding of porous silicon have been used for visualization of living cells in vitro. It was found that SiNPs could penetrate into the cells without any cytotoxic effect up to the concentration of 100 μg/ml. The cell cytoplasm was observed to be filled by SiNPs, which exhibited bright photoluminescence at 1.6 eV. SiNPs could also act as photosensitizers of the singlet oxygen generation, which could be used in the photodynamic therapy of cancer. These properties of SiNPs are discussed in view of possible applications in theranostics (both in therapy and in diagnostics).
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia. osminkina@vega.phys.msu.ru
authors.forename: Liubov A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Osminkina
authors.forename: Konstantin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Tamarov
authors.forename: Andrey P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sviridov
authors.forename: Rostislav A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Galkin
authors.forename: Maxim B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gongalsky
authors.forename: Valery V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Solovyev
authors.forename: Andrey A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kudryavtsev
authors.forename: Victor Yu
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Timoshenko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D004285:Dogs; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D051379:Mice; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D049408:Luminescent Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D014867:Water; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D012825:Silicon