Work

Multicolor FRET Silica Nanoparticles by Single Wavelength Excitation

Year: 2005

Type: article

Abstract: Fluorescent nanoparticles with multiple emission signatures by a single wavelength excitation are needed in multiplex bioanalysis and molecular imaging. We have prepared silica nanoparticles encapsulated with three organic dyes using a modified Stöber synthesis method. By varying the doping ratio of the three tandem dyes, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-mediated emission signatures can be tuned to have the nanoparticles exhibit multiple colors under one single wavelength excitation. These nanoparticles are intensely fluorescent, highly photostable, uniform in size, and biocompatible. The acceptor emission of the FRET nanoparticles has generated a large Stokes shift, which implicates broad applications in biological labeling and imaging. Molecular recognition moieties, such as biotin, can be covalently attached to the nanoparticle surface to allow for specific binding to target molecules. These multicolor FRET silica nanoparticles can be used as barcoding tags for multiplexed signaling. By using these NPs, one can envision a dynamic, multicolor, colocalization methodology to follow proteins, nucleic acids, molecular machines, and assemblies within living systems.

Source: Nano Letters

DOI: 10.1021/nl052105b

Authors: Lin Wang, Weihong Tan

Institutions: University of Florida Health, University of Florida

Language: English

Topic: Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Award: Nanoscale DNA arrays for single neuron profiling