Fluorescence biolabeling using silica nanoparticles and a lanthanide complex

What is it about?

This research reports silica nanoparticles that are made fluorescent due to the presence of a terbium picolinate complex. These nanoparticles have been investigated as fluorescent biomarkers for in vitro procedures by using Candida albicans cells as the model targeting system.

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Why is it important?

The surfaces of the core–shell nanoparticles were functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and then quaternized with methyl iodide in order to increase their water-stability and promote uptake by the cells. The methylation of the silica surfaces as described here can be exploited as a more general strategy to improve the uptake of functionalized nano-silica particles in certain conditions.