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Aqueous red-emitting silicon nanoparticles for cellular imaging: Consequences of protecting against surface passivation by hydroxide and water for stable red emission

Journal of Materials Research volume 28, pages 216–230 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Stable, aqueous, red-to-near infrared emission is critical for the use of silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) in biological fluorescence assays, but such Si NPs have been difficult to attain. We report a synthesis and surface modification strategy that protects Si NPs and preserves red photoluminescence (PL) in water for more than 6 mo. The Si NPs were synthesized via high temperature reaction, liberated from an oxide matrix, and functionalized via hydrosilylation to yield hydrophobic particles. The hydrophobic Si NPs were phase transferred to water using the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with retention of red PL. CTAB apparently serves a double role in providing stable, aqueous, red-emitting Si NPs by (i) forming a hydrophobic barrier between the Si NPs and water and (ii) providing aqueous colloidal stability via the polar head group. We demonstrate preservation of the aqueous red emission of these Si NPs in biological media and examine the effects of pH on emission color.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for this project was provided by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (Award No. 1007294.01; A.M.G. holds a Career Award at the Scientific Interface from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund), the Oregon Nano-science and Microtechnologies Institute and the Office of Navel Research (Task Order No 3. of the Master Grant Agreement, A.M.G. is a Signature Research Fellow; and Award No. GBMEN0105A, T.V.Q. and A.M.G.), Portland State University, and Sharp Laboratories of America. We also acknowledge the National Science Foundation for x-ray diffraction instrumentation (NSF-MRI, Award No. DMR-0923572) and other related support (Award No. 1057565). Microstructural and compositional analysis was performed at the Center for Electron Microscopy and Nanofabrication, Portland State University. Finally, the authors thank Dr. Douglas Tweet and Sharp Laboratories of America (Camas, WA) for assistance with QY measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, 97201, USA

    Sheng-Kuei Chiu, Beth A. Manhat, William J. I. DeBenedetti & Anna L. Brown

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA

    Katye Fichter & Tania Vu

  3. Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, 97201, USA

    Micah Eastman & Jun Jiao

  4. Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, 97201, USA

    Andrea M. Goforth

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  1. Sheng-Kuei Chiu
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Chiu, SK., Manhat, B.A., DeBenedetti, W.J.I. et al. Aqueous red-emitting silicon nanoparticles for cellular imaging: Consequences of protecting against surface passivation by hydroxide and water for stable red emission. Journal of Materials Research 28, 216–230 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2012.377

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