Loading...
Highly fluorescent sub 40-nm aminated mesoporous silica nanoparticles
Author(s)
Ma, Kai
Drews, Jennifer E.
Werner-Zwanziger, Ulrike
Zwanziger, Josef
Wiesner, Ulrich
Bradbury, Michelle S.
Date Issued
April 1, 2015
Type
Article
Abstract
We report the room temperature synthesis of highly fluorescent, sub-40 nm aminated mesoporous silica nanoparticles in water using triethanolamine (TEA) as catalyst. Co-condensation reactions between silica precursors, i.e., tetraethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane, allows the incorporation of amino moieties and conjugated fluorescent dye (tetramethylrhodamine-5(6)-isothiocyanate; TRITC) throughout the silica matrix. Resulting materials are characterized using a combination of transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen sorption measurements, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurements, thermogravimetric analysis, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and solid-state 29Si-NMR spectroscopy. The TEA-catalyzed system leads to the formation of bright and discrete sub-40 nm aminated mesoporous silica nanoparticles with disordered pore structure and high organic content. Resulting nanomaterials may find use as simultaneous fluorescent probes and drug delivery vehicles in future theranostic applications.
Citation
Journal of Sol Gel Science and Technology, 74(1), 32-38, 2015