Bright photoluminescent hybrid mesostructured silica nanoparticles.
Bright photoluminescent mesostructured silica nanoparticles were synthesized by the incorporation of fluorescent cyanine dyes into the channels of MCM-41 mesoporous silica. Cyanine molecules were introduced into MCM-41 nanoparticles by physical adsorption and covalent grafting. Several photoluminescent nanoparticles with different organic loadings have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen physisorption porosimetry. A detailed photoluminescence study with the analysis of fluorescence lifetimes was carried out to elucidate the cyanine molecules distribution within the pores of MCM-41 nanoparticles and the influence of the encapsulation on the photoemission properties of the guests. The results show that highly stable photoluminescent hybrid materials with interesting potential applications as photoluminescent probes for diagnostics and imaging can be prepared by both methods.
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Torino, via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy. ivana.miletto@unito.it
Ivana
I
Miletto
Emanuela
E
Bottinelli
Giuseppe
G
Caputo
Salvatore
S
Coluccia
Enrica
E
Gianotti
D000327:Adsorption; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000737:chemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D015394:Molecular Structure; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D033362:Powder Diffraction; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D002232:Carbocyanines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide