Confeito-like assembly of organosilicate-caged fluorophores: ultrabright suprananoparticles for fluorescence imaging

Nanotechnology. 2012 May 4;23(17):175601. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/23/17/175601. Epub 2012 Apr 5.

Abstract

We report ultrabright, photostable, sub-25 nm nanoparticle agglomerates (suprananoparticles) assembled from a few hundred 3.3 ± 0.9 nm units, each hosting on average a single rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) dye molecule encased in a thin organosilicate cage. These individual Rh6G-doped nanoparticle (DOSNP) units consist of a hydrophobic core containing the dye and an ultrathin, conformal silicate shell modified by CO(2) plasma to confer a beneficial 'cage effect' as well as surface hydrophilicity. The isolation of the dye within individual DOSNP units in the final 22 ± 5 nm agglomerate avoids dimerization and related spontaneous molecular interactions that otherwise lead to self-quenching in closely co-localized fluorophores. The resulting suprananoparticles are over 200 times brighter than the free Rh6G molecules in the same volume. There is no observable dye leaching, and the labels are 20-fold more resistant to photobleaching than free Rh6G in solution. We demonstrate the attractive features of DOSNPs as labels in bioimaging applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Organosilicon Compounds / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Photobleaching
  • Rhodamines / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Organosilicon Compounds
  • Rhodamines
  • rhodamine 6G