Synthesis of pH stable, blue light-emitting diode-excited, fluorescent silica nanoparticles and effects on cell behavior

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Shin-Woo Ha, Emory University; Jin-Kyu Lee, Seoul National University; George R Beck Jr, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-12-07
• Publisher: Dove Medical Press
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 Ha et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S139562
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: International Journal of Nanomedicine
• ISSN: 1176-9114
• Volume: 12
• Start Page: 8699
• End Page: 8710
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was supported by a grant from the Biomedical Laboratory Research & Development Service Award Number I01BX002363 from the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development and Emory University Research Committee grant (00067461).
• Keywords: MAMMALIAN-CELLS; reduced toxicity; CYTOTOXICITY; NANOMEDICINE; FUNCTIONALIZATION; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology; bone marrow stromal cell migration; Science & Technology - Other Topics; GOLD NANOPARTICLES; IN-VIVO; naphthalimide; 1,8-NAPHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE DERIVATIVES; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; imaging; SIZE; Science & Technology; Pharmacology & Pharmacy
• Research Categories: Biology, Cell; Chemistry, General; Health Sciences, Oncology

Abstract

To date, delivery of light-emitting diode (LED)-activated compounds to cells and tissue remains a challenge. Silica-based materials possess good biocompatibility and have advantages of control of size and shape. Fluorescent silica nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized and used for applications such as cell tracking and tumor identification. Here, we report the synthesis and optimization of fluorescent silica NPs, which incorporate a naphthalimide dye with triethoxysilanes that are excited by the blue LED wavelength (LEDex NPs). The NPs can be imaged in the 420-470 nm wavelength, demonstrate a high quantum yield, are stable in a range of pH, and are taken into the cells. Therefore, these NPs represent a novel imaging technology for biomedical applications.