Issue 62, 2018, Issue in Progress

Enhanced distance-dependent fluorescence quenching using size tuneable core shell silica nanoparticles

Abstract

Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) have been used as favoured platforms for sensor, drug delivery and biological imaging applications, due to their ease of synthesis, size-control and bespoke physico-chemical properties. In this study, we have developed a protocol for the synthesis of size-tuneable SNPs, with diameters ranging from 20 nm to 500 nm, through the optimisation of experimental components required for nanoparticle synthesis. This protocol was also used to prepare fluorescent SNPs, via covalent linkages of fluorophores, to the nanoparticle matrix using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). This enabled the fabrication of ratiometric, fluorescent, pH-sensitive nanosensors (75 nm diameter) composed SNPs covalently linked to two pH-sensitive fluorescent dyes Oregon Green (OG) and 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (FAM) and a reference fluorescent dye 5-(6)-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA), extending the dynamic range of measurement from pH 3.5 to 7.5. In addition, size-tuneable, core–shell SNPs, covalently linked to a fluorescent TAMRA core were synthesised to investigate distance-dependant fluorescence quenching between TAMRA and black hole quencher 2 (BHQ2®) using nanometre-sized silica shells as physical spacers. The results showed a significant fluorescence quenching could be observed over greater distances than that reported for the classical distance-dependent molecular fluorescence quenching techniques, e.g. the Förster (fluorescence) resonance energy transfer (FRET). The methods and protocols we have detailed in this manuscript will provide the basis for the reproducible production of size tunable SNPs, which will find broad utility in the development of sensors for biological applications.

Graphical abstract: Enhanced distance-dependent fluorescence quenching using size tuneable core shell silica nanoparticles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Jul 2018
Accepted
06 Oct 2018
First published
19 Oct 2018
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2018,8, 35840-35848

Enhanced distance-dependent fluorescence quenching using size tuneable core shell silica nanoparticles

M. M. Elsutohy, A. Selo, V. M. Chauhan, S. J. B. Tendler and J. W. Aylott, RSC Adv., 2018, 8, 35840 DOI: 10.1039/C8RA05929B

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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