Abstract
The major challenge in the fabrication of fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSNs) based on dye-doped silica nanoparticles (DDSNs) is aggregation-caused fluorescence quenching. Here, we constructed an FSN based on a double emission enhancement (DEE) platform. A thio-reactive fluorescence turn-on molecule, N-butyl-4-(4-maleimidostyryl)-1,8-naphthalimide (CS), was bound to a silane coupling agent, (3-mercaptopropyl)-trimethoxysilane (MPTMS), and the product N-butyl-4-(3-(trimethoxysilyl-propylthio)styryl)-1,8-naphthalimide (CSP) was further used to fabricate a core–shell nanoparticle through the Stöber method. We concluded that the turn-on emission by CSP originated from the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between the maleimide moiety and the CSP core scaffold, and the second emission enhancement was attributed to the aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) in CSP when encapsulated inside a core–shell nanoparticle. Thus, FSNs could be obtained through DEE based on a combination of PET and AIEE effects. Systematic investigations verified that the resulting FSNs showed the traditional solvent-independent and photostable optical properties. The results implied that the novel FSNs are suitable as biomarkers in living cells and function as fluorescent visualizing agents for intracellular imaging and drug carriers.
Highlights
Silica nanoparticles (SNs) have many functions that make them superior to other similar polymers, such as ease of synthesis and surface modification, chemical and physical stability, biocompatibility and excellent dispersibility in aqueous media [1]
When DDSN-embedded dyes are replaced by a fluorophore, fluorophore-doped silica nanoparticles (FSNs) are obtained, which offer all the diagnostic and theragnostic features required for their nanotechnological application in biological fields [5,6]
We found that CSP can form fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) based on aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE), which means that CSP should induce AIEE when covalently grafted to the nanoparticle silica network and encapsulated in the core of FSNs
Summary
Silica nanoparticles (SNs) have many functions that make them superior to other similar polymers, such as ease of synthesis and surface modification, chemical and physical stability, biocompatibility and excellent dispersibility in aqueous media [1]. SN is nonluminescent and chemically inert, so it is to expect a low environment impact and is an ideal material for coating nanomaterials, encapsulating molecules or drug carriers [2]. Researchers have a great interest in constructing DDSNs with controllable size, high emission intensity and good photostability at physiological pH for potential applications in many nanotechnology fields [4]. When DDSN-embedded dyes are replaced by a fluorophore, fluorophore-doped silica nanoparticles (FSNs) are obtained, which offer all the diagnostic and theragnostic features required for their nanotechnological application in biological fields [5,6].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
