Preparation of a new core-shell Ag@SiO2 nanocomposite and its application for fluorescence enhancement

Ag@SiO₂ nanoparticles with different shell thicknesses were synthesized via modified Stöber method. Rhodamine B isothiocyanate was covalently bound onto the surface of Ag@SiO₂ nanoparticles to form fluorescent core-shell Ag@SiO₂ nanocomposites. Effects of shell thickness on the fluorescence enhancement were examined using the corresponding nanobubbles prepared by cyanide etching as a control. The result showed that the fluorescence enhanced as the shell thickness increased till the distance between fluorophore and metal core reached about 75 nm with the optimal enhancement factor of ∼5-folds. Further increasing of fluorophore-metal distance caused a decrease in the enhancement factor.     

Ru(bpy)_3 掺杂的核壳型 Ag@SiO_2 荧光纳米粒子的制备及表征

利用反相微乳液法制备了一种三联吡啶钌掺杂的核壳型Ag@SiO2纳米粒子。利用透射电子显微镜、荧光光谱和紫外-可见光谱等对其进行表征,并对其光稳定性和表面氨基进行了测定,结果表明该纳米粒子单分散性良好,呈规则球状、粒径为(60±5)nm,由于银的金属增强荧光效应,相对没有银核的Ru(bpy)3掺杂的SiO2纳米粒子,其荧光强度增强了2倍,光稳定性也有所提高。     

Surface‐Enhanced Fluorescence from Fluorophore‐Assembled Monolayers by Using Ag@SiO2 Nanoparticles

A new and simple procedure to enhance the fluorescence of analytes on the surfaces of a solid substrate is demonstrated based on Ag@SiO₂ nanoparticles. Two kinds of silver–silica core–shell nanoparticles with shell thicknesses of around 3 and 15 nm have been prepared and used as enhancing agents, respectively. By simply pipetting drops of the enhancing agents onto substrate surfaces with Rose Bengal monolayers, an enhancement of about 27 times, compared with the control sample, is achieved by using the Ag@SiO₂ nanoparticles with shells of about 3 nm, whereas an enhancement of around 11.7 times is obtained when using those with thicker shells. The effects of shell thickness and surface density of the enhancing agents on the enhancement have been investigated experimentally. The results show that this method can be potentially helpful in fluorescence‐based surface analysis.     

纳米Ag@SiO2核壳结构的表面等离子体共振效应对铕配合物的荧光增强作用

分别制备了二氧化硅壳层厚度为10、25和80 nm的三种Ag@SiO₂纳米粒子, 合成了铕与不同比例苯甲酸根(BA)的配合物、铕与1, 10-邻菲罗啉(phen)及2, 2''-联吡啶(bpy)的配合物, 并对其进行表征. 表征结果推测配合物的组成为Eu(BA)_nCl_3-n·2H₂O (n=1, 2, 3)、Eu(phen)Cl₃·2H₂O和Eu(bpy)Cl₃·2H₂O. 配合物的荧光光谱显示, 在加入Ag@SiO₂纳米粒子后, 复合物的荧光强度有不同程度的增加, 这可能是由于表面等离子体共振造成的. 不同硅壳厚度的Ag@SiO₂纳米粒子的荧光增强顺序是25 nm>80 nm>10 nm, 这表明二氧化硅核壳厚度约25 nm时有较强的表面等离子体共振效应. 此外, 在这些复合物中, Eu(phen)Cl₃·2H₂O复合物的增强效果是最强的, 而Eu(BA)_nCl_3-n·2H₂O的增强效果是最弱的. 在三个苯甲酸铕配合物中, Eu(BA)₃·2H₂O的增强效果最弱, 其他两个苯甲酸铕复合物增强效果相对较好. 原因可能是含氮配合物(Eu(phen)Cl₃·2H₂O和Eu(bpy)Cl₃·2H₂O)可以和Ag@SiO₂更好地成键, 而苯甲酸铕配合物和Ag@SiO₂纳米粒子的作用相对较弱. Ag@SiO₂纳米粒子有望应用于增强稀土材料的发光.     

新型有机荧光染料嵌合的核壳荧光纳米材料的研制

采用油包水的反相微乳液方法,首次以羊抗人免疫球蛋白(IgG)标记的异硫氰酸荧光素(FITC)为核材料,成功地制备了FITC的核壳荧光纳米颗粒,克服了采用传统方法制备核壳荧光纳米颗粒中存在的荧光染料泄露的问题.制备的这种核壳荧光纳米颗粒比细胞小很多,且具有生物亲和性,可为纳米生物传感器件提供新型材料.基于该核壳荧光纳米颗粒的标记方法也为生物医学提供了一种新型的非同位素分析方法.     

Diffusion and transfer of antibody proteins from a sugar-based hydrogel

Diffusion of antibody protein from hydrogel films and hydrogel encapsulated in a microcapillary was studied. Thin hydrogel films were formed by crosslinking 6-acryloyl-B-O-methylgalactoside withN,N’-methylene-bis-acrylamide and the diffusive transport of monoclonal antimouse IgG-FITC into and out of the hydrated films was measured. Diffusion coefficients in 2 and 4% crosslinked hydrogel films were measured. The measured diffusion constants determined for IgG in both the 2 and 4% hydrogel films were comparable to the free diffusion of IgG in bulk water (D _mean ∼ 10^-7cm²/s). In addition, 2% crosslinked hydrogels were prepared in a capillary tube and the transport of antimouse IgG-FITC into and out of the hydrated hydrogel was measured. Kinetic analysis indicated that the protein transport through the capillary hydrogel was faster than would be expected for a simple diffusion process. Finally, by utilizing the diffusion of antibody from the capillary hydrogel, transfer of antibody to a silica surface was demonstrated. A capillary hydrogel loaded with antimouse IgG-FITC was used to transfer the protein to a silica surface forming a 30-μm spot of antibody, which was imaged using fluorescence microscopy. These results may lead to the development of a nonlithographic method of patterning antibodies on surfaces for use in integrated microimmunosensors.     

A non-enzyme hydrogen peroxide sensor based on core/shell silica nanoparticles using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy

In our previous study, we have prepared aminated fluorescent silica nanoparticles doped with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) (FSNPs) for the sensing of γ-globulin. Compared with conventional organic dyes, FSNPs show superiorities such as excellent photostability, good water solubility, and biocompatibility, which are in favor of improving the stability and sensitivity of sensors. To extend the application of FSNPs, a convenient and effective method for non-enzyme fluorescent sensor of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is introduced based on the synchronous fluorescence technique. The sensor includes two-step reactions, typical redox reaction between KI and H₂O₂ and iodination reaction between I₂ produced by the first step reaction and FITC doped in the network of silica nanoparticles, which induce the fluorescence quenching of FSNPs. The results show that the fluorescence signal of FSNPs linearly decreases with the trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide added in the range 5–80 μM with a detection limit of 0.8 μM under the optimal experimental conditions. The method is simple and sensitive and can be applied to the determination of trace amounts of H₂O₂. Good recovery data were obtained for the assay of H₂O₂ in river water by standard addition method with high accuracy and reliability.     

Preparation of hybrid fluorescent-magnetic nanoparticles for application to cellular imaging by self-assembly

A unique fluorescent-magnetic hybrid bimodal nanocomposite was prepared by the layer-by-layer self-assembly (LbL) technique fabrication of water-soluble conjugated polymers (CPs) onto the CoFe₂O₄@SiO₂ core-shell nanoparticles (NPs). First, magnetic CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were prepared as the magnetic core and coated with a SiO₂ shell to obtain a good dispersion in aqueous solution. Then the polyelectrolytes and cationic conjugated polymer PFV was assembled onto the surface of core-shell nanoparticles by the LbL technique. The prepared nanocomposites were magnetically responsive and fluorescent, simultaneously. Finally, the biomacromolecule heparin sodium (HS) was then assembled on the outer layer of the nanocomposite to provide a cytocompatible surface. The nanocomposites show monodispersity, good fluorescence and good biocompatibility that are useful for efficient cellular imaging. Moreover, the colloidal stability and the cellular uptake ability of the nanocomposition with HS layer were efficiently improved.     

Synthesis of aqueous CdTe quantum dots embedded silica nanoparticles and their applications as fluorescence probes

This paper presents the synthesis of aqueous CdTe QDs embedded silica nanoparticles by reverse microemulsion method and their applications as fluorescence probes in bioassay and cell imaging. With the aim of embedding more CdTe QDs in silica spheres, we use poly(dimethyldiallyl ammonium chloride) to balance the electrostatic repulsion between CdTe QDs and silica intermediates. By modifying the surface of CdTe/SiO₂ composite nanoparticles with amino and methylphosphonate groups, biologically functionalized and monodisperse CdTe/SiO₂ composite nanoparticles can be obtained. In this work, CdTe/SiO₂ composite nanoparticles are conjugated with biotin-labeled mouse IgG via covalent binding. The biotin-labeled mouse IgG on the CdTe/SiO₂ composite nanoparticles surface can recognize FITC-labeled avidin and avidin on the surface of polystyrene microspheres by protein-protein binding. Finally, the CdTe/SiO₂ composite nanoparticles with secondary antibody are used to label the MG63 osteosarcoma cell with primary antibody successfully, which demonstrates that the application of CdTe/SiO₂ composite nanoparticles as fluorescent probes in bioassay and fluorescence imaging is feasible.     

吲哚类菁染料Cy3嵌入的核壳荧光纳米颗粒的制备及其性质研究

以蛋白质或多肽修饰的吲哚类菁染料Cy3为内核, 采用实验条件简单的油包水反相微乳液方法成核, 通过正硅酸乙酯水解形成的网状二氧化硅包壳的方法制备吲哚类菁染料Cy3嵌入的核壳荧光纳米颗粒. 考察了以不同等电点的蛋白质和多肽修饰的Cy3为内核材料对吲哚类菁染料Cy3嵌入的核壳荧光纳米颗粒制备的影响. 结果表明, 分别采用人免疫球蛋白(IgG)或多聚赖氨酸修饰的Cy3为内核材料, 都能制备荧光强度高、荧光稳定性强和染料泄漏极少的Cy3嵌入的核壳荧光纳米颗粒. 进一步对Cy3嵌入的核壳荧光纳米颗粒进行了表征, 并将基于这一新型的荧光纳米颗粒建立起来的生物标记方法初步应用于流感病毒DNA的检测, 其检测线性范围为3.18×10-10～1.27×10-9 mol/L, 检测下限为3.51×10-10 mol/L, 相关系数r为0.986 5.     

Chiral SiO2 and Ag@SiO2 Materials Templated by Complexes Consisting of Comblike Polyethyleneimine and Tartaric Acid

A facile avenue to fabricate micrometer‐sized chiral (L ‐, D ‐) and meso‐like (dl ‐) SiO₂ materials with unique structures by using crystalline complexes (cPEI/tart), composed of comblike polyethyleneimine (cPEI) and L ‐, D ‐, or dl ‐tartaric acid, respectively, as catalytic templates is reported. Interestingly, both chiral crystalline complexes appeared as regularly left‐ and right‐twisted bundle structures about 10 μm in length and about 5 μm in diameter, whereas the dl ‐form occurred as circular structures with about 10 μm diameter. Subsequently, SiO₂@cPEI/tart hybrids with high silica content (>55.0 wt %) were prepared by stirring a mixture containing tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and the aggregates of the crystalline complexes in water. The chiral SiO₂ hybrids and calcined chiral SiO₂ showed very strong CD signals and a nanofiber‐based morphology on their surface, whereas dl ‐SiO₂ showed no CD activity and a nanosheet‐packed disklike shape. Furthermore, metallic silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were encapsulated in each silica hybrid to obtain chiral (D and L forms) and meso‐like (dl form) Ag@SiO₂ composites. Also, the reaction between L ‐cysteine (Lcys) and these Ag@SiO₂ composites was preliminarily investigated. Only chiral L ‐ and D ‐Ag@SiO₂ composites promoted the reaction between Lcys and Ag NPs to produce a molecular [Ag–Lcys]_n complex with remarkable exciton chirality, whereas the reaction hardly occurred in the case of meso‐like (dl ‐) Ag@SiO₂ composite.     

Stability of Ag@SiO_2 core–shell particles in conditions of photocatalytic overall water-splitting

Core–shell nanoparticles containing plasmonic metals(Ag or Au) have been frequently reported to enhance performance of photo-electrochemical(PEC) devices. However, the stability of these particles in water-splitting conditions is usually not addressed. In this study we demonstrate that Ag@SiO_2 core–shell particles are instable in the acidic conditions in which WO_3-based PEC cells typically operate, Ag in the core being prone to oxidation, even if the SiO_2 shell has a thickness in the order of 10 nm. This is evident from in situ voltammetry studies of several anode composites. Similar to the results of the PEC experiments, the Ag@SiO_2 core–shell particles are instable in slurry-based, Pt/ZnO induced photocatalytic water-splitting. This was evidenced by in situ photodeposition of Ag nanoparticles on the Pt-loaded ZnO catalyst, observed in TEM micrographs obtained after reaction. We explain the instability of Ag@SiO_2 by OH-radical induced oxidation of Ag, yielding dissolved Ag+. Our results imply that a decrease in shell permeability for OH-radicals is necessary to obtain stable, Ag-based plasmonic entities in photo-electrochemical and photocatalytic water splitting.     

In-vivo fluorescence imaging technique using colloid solution of multiple quantum dots/silica/poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles

This paper describes a method for producing silica particles containing multiple quantum dots (QD/SiO₂), a method for surface-modifying the particles with poly(ethylene glycol) (QD/SiO₂/PEG), and an in vivo fluorescence imaging technique using colloid solution of the QD/SiO₂/PEG particles. The QDs used were ZnS-coated CdSe_xTe_1?x nanoparticles surface-modified with carboxyl groups, and had an average size of 10.3 ± 2.1 nm. The QD/SiO₂ particles were fabricated by performing sol–gel reaction of tetraethyl orthosilicate using NaOH as a catalyst in the presence of the QDs. The produced particles formed core–shell structure composed of multiple QDs and silica shell, and had an average size of 50.2 ± 17.9 nm. Surface-modification of the QD/SiO₂ particles with PEG, or PEGylation of the particle surface, was performed by using methoxy polyethylene glycol silane. Fluorescence of QD colloid solution was not quenched even through the silica-coating and the PEGylation. Tissues of a mouse could be imaged by injecting the concentrated colloid solution into it and measuring fluorescence intensity emitted from the tissues.     

Biocompatible Triplex Ag@SiO2@mTiO2 Core–Shell Nanoparticles for Simultaneous Fluorescence‐SERS Bimodal Imaging and Drug Delivery

Herein, we report the synthesis of biocompatible triplex Ag@SiO₂@mTiO₂ core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) for simultaneous fluorescence‐surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (F‐SERS) bimodal imaging and drug delivery. Stable Raman signals were created by typical SERS tags that were composed of Ag NPs for optical enhancement, a reporter molecule of 4‐mercaptopyridine (4‐Mpy) for a spectroscopic signature, and a silica shell for protection. A further coating of mesoporous titania (mTiO₂) on the SERS tags offered high loading capacity for a fluorescence dye (flavin mononucleotide) and an anti‐cancer drug (doxorubicin (DOX)), thereby endowing the material with fluorescence‐imaging and therapeutic functions. The as‐prepared F‐SERS dots exhibited strong fluorescence when excited by light at 460 nm whilst a stable, characteristic 4‐Mpy SERS signal was detected when the excitation wavelength was changed to longer wavelength (632.8 nm), both in solution and after incorporation inside living cells. Their excellent biocompatibility was demonstrated by low cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 cells, even at a high concentration of 100 μg mL^?1. In vitro cell cytotoxicity confirmed that DOX‐loaded F‐SERS dots had a comparable or even greater therapeutic effect compared with the free drug, owing to the increased cell‐uptake, which was attributed to the possible endocytosis mechanism of the NPs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first proof‐of‐concept investigation on a multifunctional nanomedicine that possessed a combined capacity for fast and multiplexed F‐SERS labeling as well as drug‐loading for cancer therapy.     

单分散、规则球形Au@SiO2核-壳纳米粒的制备及光谱研究

采用3-巯基丙基三甲氧基硅烷作为联结剂,成功将单个金纳米粒子包在氧化硅壳中,制得Au@SiO₂核壳纳米粒子;该复合纳米粒子形貌呈球形、单分散性较好,金纳米粒子位于氧化硅球的中心,无团聚的金纳米粒子包覆在氧化硅壳中。采用透射电镜(TEM)对样品的形貌进行了表征,通过能量散射X-射线能谱(EDX)分析了目标物的化学成分,并对所得核壳纳米粒子的光谱性质进行了研究。     

Enhanced oxygen sensing properties of Pt(II) complex and dye entrapped core-shell silica nanoparticles embedded in sol-gel matrix

This paper presents a highly sensitive oxygen sensor that comprises an optical fiber coated at one end with platinum(II) meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (PtTFPP) and PtTFPP entrapped core-shell silica nanoparticles embedded in an n-octyltriethoxysilane (Octyl-triEOS)/tetraethylorthosilane (TEOS) composite xerogel. The sensitivity of the optical oxygen sensor is quantified in terms of the ratio I₀/I₁₀₀, where I₀ and I₁₀₀ represent the detected fluorescence intensities in pure nitrogen and pure oxygen environments, respectively. The experimental results show that the oxygen sensor has a sensitivity (I₀/I₁₀₀) of 166. The response time was 1.3 s when switching from pure nitrogen to pure oxygen, and 18.6 s when switching in the reverse direction. The experimental results show that compared to oxygen sensors based on PtTFPP, PtOEP, or Ru(dpp)₃²⁺ dyes, the proposed optical fiber oxygen sensor has the highest sensitivity. In addition to the increased surface area per unit mass of the sensing surface, the dye entrapped in the core of silica nanoparticles also increases the sensitivity because a substantial number of aerial oxygen molecules penetrate the porous silica shell. The dye entrapped core-shell nanoparticles is more prone to oxygen quenching.     

Ag@SiO2纳米颗粒的制备及其在H2O2检测上的应用

利用柠檬酸三钠还原硝酸银制备了银纳米颗粒(AgNPs), 然后通过氨水水解正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)的方法, 在AgNPs上沉积SiO₂, 制备出以Ag为核, SiO₂为壳的复合纳米颗粒(Ag@SiO₂). 调节TEOS用量, 可以控制SiO₂层的厚度. 根据AgNPs的局域表面等离激元共振(LSPR)效应, 将制得的Ag@SiO₂颗粒用于H₂O₂的检测, 检测下限为1 μmol/L, 并可以通过控制SiO₂层的厚度方便地调节Ag@SiO₂颗粒与H₂O₂反应的速率. 与传统方法相比, 具有简单、快速、成本低的优点. 分别运用TEM、紫外-可见分光光度计对反应前后Ag@SiO₂颗粒形貌及反应过程中其LSPR吸收的变化进行了表征.     

金@银核壳纳米粒子的制备和形貌的精确控制及其表面增强拉曼光谱性能

用种子生长法制备了金@银核壳结构的纳米粒子。在制备过程中通过控制氯金酸的浓度和硝酸银的体积,得到了不同粒径的金核和不同厚度的银壳构成的核壳纳米粒子。从而得到了具有不同SERS性能的金@银核壳纳米粒子。选取具有最佳SERS性能的金@银核壳纳米粒子实现了对罗丹明6G的微量检测。     

Microstructured layers of spherical biofunctional core-shell nanoparticles provide enlarged reactive surfaces for protein microarrays

Nanostructured core-shell particles with tailor-made affinity surfaces were used to generate microstructured affinity surfaces by microspotting the particles to form densely packed amorphous nanoparticle layers. These layers provided a large reactive surface for the specific binding of protein ligands from aqueous solution. Biofunctional core-shell particles were synthesized for this purpose that consisted of a silica core with a diameter of 100 nm and an organic shell a few nm thick. The nanoparticle core was prepared by sol-gel chemistry and the shell formed in suspension by organosilane chemistry. The shell provided amino groups or carbonyl groups at its outer surface for subsequent covalent immobilization of streptavidin, rabbit IgG antibodies or goat IgG antibodies. AlexaFluor 647-conjugated and biotinylated cytochrome C and CyDye-labeled anti-rabbit IgG and anti-goat IgG were probed as model analytes. The core-shell nanoparticles were spotted using a pin-ring micro-arrayer onto microscope glass slides that were coated with a polycation monolayer by dip-coating prior to nanoparticle deposition. Amorphous particle layers of well-defined thicknesses in the range of 100 nm to 2 microm were obtained by printing aqueous particle suspensions containing 5-500 mg/mL (0.5-50 wt%) of silica particles. The specific affinity of the plotted nanoparticulate capture surface was demonstrated by binding Cy3-labeled donkey anti-rabbit IgG and Cy5-labeled mouse anti-goat IgG to immobilized rabbit IgG and goat IgG particles. The signal intensity per spot increased for any given analyte concentration when the amount of particles per spot was augmented. This was attributed to the increasing integration of receptor molecules per surface footprint, which shifted the binding equilibrium towards the formation of the receptor-ligand complex. Additionally, the locally-increased supply of receptor molecules at the nanoparticulate microchip surface resulted in a wide dynamic range of 4 fM-20 nM (covering six orders of magnitude).     

金@银核壳纳米粒子的制备和形貌的精确控制及其表面增强拉曼光谱性能

用种子生长法制备了金@银核壳结构的纳米粒子。在制备过程中通过控制氯金酸的浓度和硝酸银的体积,得到了不同粒径的金核和不同厚度的银壳构成的核壳纳米粒子。从而得到了具有不同SERS性能的金@银核壳纳米粒子。并选取具有最佳SERS性能的金@银核壳纳米粒子实现了对罗丹明6G的微量检测。