Dye-doped silica-based nanoparticles for bioapplications

Hong Nhung Tran, Thi Ha Lien Nghiem, Thi Thuy Duong Vu, Minh Tan Pham, Thi Van Nguyen, Thu Trang Tran, Viet Ha Chu, Kim Thuan Tong, Thanh Thuy Tran, Thi Thanh Xuan Le, Jean-Claude Brochon, Thi Quy Nguyen, My Nhung Hoang, Cao Nguyen Duong, Thi Thuy Nguyen, Anh Tuan Hoang and Phuong Hoa Nguyen

Abstract

This paper presents our recent research results on synthesis and bioapplications of dye-doped silica-based nanoparticles. The dye-doped water soluble organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles (NPs) with the size of 15–100 nm were synthesized by modified Stöber method from methyltriethoxysilane CH₃Si(OCH₃)₃ precursor (MTEOS). Because thousands of fluorescent dye molecules are encapsulated in the silica-based matrix, the dye-doped nanoparticles are extremely bright and photostable. Their surfaces were modified with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and biocompatible chemical reagents. The highly intensive luminescent nanoparticles were combined with specific bacterial and breast cancer antigen antibodies. The antibody-conjugated nanoparticles can identify a variety of bacterium, such as Escherichia coliO157:H7, through antibody–antigen interaction and recognition. A highly sensitive breast cancer cell detection has been achieved with the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody–nanoparticles complex. These results demonstrate the potential to apply these fluorescent nanoparticles in various biodetection systems