Abstract

Fluorescent nanoparticles offer enormous scientific and technological promise as labels and photon sources for a range of biotechnological and information-technology applications such as biological imaging, sensor technology, microarrays, optical computing, and display technology. Many applications require size-controlled, monodisperse, bright nanoparticles that can be specifically conjugated to biological macromolecules or arranged and positioned in higher-order structures and devices. As an alternative to single molecule fluorophores and quantum dots, silica-based particles derived through the Stöber process hold particular promise since they are non-toxic, water soluble, the silica chemistry is well established and extremely versatile, and silica is compatible with semiconductor processing. Here we report on programs at Cornell’s Center for Materials Research (CCMR) and Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC) to develop a novel class of multifunctional silica-based fluorescent core-shell nanoparticles referred to as C-dots. Results on C-dot synthesis and characterization are discussed and first materials and life sciences applications are demonstrated.

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