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A comparative study of three different synthesis routes for hydrophilic fluorophore-doped silica nanoparticles

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Abstract

The synthesis of fluorophore-doped silica nanoparticles (FDS NPs) with two conventional approaches, Stöber and microemulsion, as well as a novel amino acid-catalyzed seeds regrowth technique (ACSRT) is presented. The efficiency of each applied synthesis route toward incorporation of selected hydrophilic fluorophores, including rhodamine B isothiocyanate and fluorescein isothiocyanate, without and with an amine-containing crosslinker, into silica matrix was systematically studied. Our results clearly highlight the advantages of ACSRT to obtain FDS NPs with a remarkable encapsulation efficiency, high quantum yield, and enhanced stability against bleaching and dye leaking due to efficient embedding of the dyes inside silica network even without the amine-containing silane reagent. Moreover, evaluation of photostability of FDNPs internalized in human bone cells demonstrates the merits of ACSRT.

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Acknowledgments

We greatly thank Dr. Jan Köser of Zentrale Analytik, University of Bremen for DLS measurements. This work was supported by the European Research Council within the SIRG Project “BiocerEng” Project No. 205509.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Ceramics, University of Bremen, Am Biologischen Garten 2, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Shakiba Shahabi & Kurosch Rezwan

  2. Petroceramics S.p.A., Kilometro Rosso Science Park, Viale Europa, 2, 24040, Stezzano, BG, Italy

    Laura Treccani

  3. MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

    Kurosch Rezwan

Authors
  1. Shakiba Shahabi
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  2. Laura Treccani
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  3. Kurosch Rezwan
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Correspondence to Laura Treccani.

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Shahabi, S., Treccani, L. & Rezwan, K. A comparative study of three different synthesis routes for hydrophilic fluorophore-doped silica nanoparticles. J Nanopart Res 18, 28 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-016-3334-0

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