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An outlook on the potential of Si nanocrystals as luminescent probes for bioimaging

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Abstract

Silicon nanocrystals (Si-nc) present several plus points as advanced fluorescent biomarkers but suffer from difficulties met in controlling their intrinsic photoluminescence (PL). Here, we first consider the reasons for this difficulty, showing results that support an interface defect-related origin of the PL. Attainment of a controlled PL emission would then require tuning of defects in the capping oxide, a hard and yet unaddressed task. Alternatively, we demonstrate the possible use of Si-nc as antennas, or sensitizers, of a luminescent rare-earth ion in an engineered fluorophore. In this approach the relatively high and broadband optical absorption of Si-nc was exploited, keeping the advantages of a near-infrared inorganic light emitter. Another fundamental part of the assessment of Si-nc for bioimaging is their biocompatibility. Here, we report toxicity tests based on the lactate dehydrogenase release and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays on epithelial cells and fibroblasts, confirming that Si-nc in concentration suitable for luminescent labeling do not affect significantly the cells viability.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Prof. Giovanni Mattei and Dr. V. Bello for the valuable long lasting cooperation on HR-TEM characterization of Si-based nanoparticles, Prof. D. Wang and Prof. F. Huisken for helpful discussion, Dr. Fabio Fabbri for significant contribution in the laser synthesis of nanoparticles, Mr. Gaetano Terranova and Mr. Paolo Calvelli for skillful technical support in carrying out the experimental activity. Part of the funding for our research in this field came from the EC FP6 Life-Science-Health Project BONSAI “Bioimaging with smart functional nanoparticles” (Grant No. 037639).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENEA, C.R. Frascati, I-00044, Frascati, Rome, Italy

    Elisabetta Borsella & Rosaria D’Amato

  2. ENEA, C.R. Casaccia, I-00123, Rome, Italy

    Mauro Falconieri

  3. Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University, Dorsoduro, 2137, I-30123, Venezia, Italy

    Enrico Trave

  4. Department of Health Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, 4820900, Monza, Monza and Brianza, Italy

    Alice Panariti & Ilaria Rivolta

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  1. Elisabetta Borsella
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  2. Rosaria D’Amato
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  3. Mauro Falconieri
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  4. Enrico Trave
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Correspondence to Mauro Falconieri.

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Borsella, E., D’Amato, R., Falconieri, M. et al. An outlook on the potential of Si nanocrystals as luminescent probes for bioimaging. Journal of Materials Research 28, 193–204 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2012.295

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