Silica-based fluorescent nanoparticles

A method of preparing a silica-based florescent nanoparticle, comprising:

• reacting a fluorescent dye of Formula D-A with a compound of Formula B—(CH2)q′—CH═CH2 to produce a fluorescent dye derivative of Formula D-L1-(CH2)q′—CH═CH2;
• reacting the fluorescent dye derivative of Formula D-L1-(CH2)q′—CH═CH2 with a silane compound of Formula HSiX23 to produce a fluorescent dye-silane compound of Formula D-L1-(CH2)n—SiX23:
• and
• polymerizing an organic silane of Formula SiR1m′X14-m and the fluorescent dye-silane compound of Formula D-L1-(CH2)n—SiX23 in the presence of water and a hydrolysis catalyst:
• wherein
• R1 is a C1-C6 alkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halogens or hydroxyl group, C2-C6 alkenyl that is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halogens or hydroxyl group, or an aryl group that is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halogens or hydroxyl group;
• D is a radical having a fluorophore;
• each X1 and X2 are independently a hydrolyzable substituent;
• L1 is a bond, O, S, C(O)O, C(O)NR2, SO2O, C(O)S, C(S), or S2;
• A is COOH, OH, SO3H, CO—CH2-halogen, CH═CH2 or SH;
• B is OH, NHR2, F, Cl, Br, I, or SH;
• q′ is an integer of 1 to 10;
• n is an integer of 3 to 12;
• m′ is 0 or 1;
• and
• R2 is hydrogen, C1-C12 alkyl, or hydroxy-substituted C1-C12 alkyl;
• with the proviso that A and B are selected in such a manner as to be able to react with each other.

A compound represented by Formula D-L1-(CH2)q′-CH═CH2 wherein:

• D is a radical having a fluorophore;
• L1 is a bond, O, S, C(O)O, C(O)NR2, SO2O, C(O)S, C(S), or S2;
• and
• q′ is an integer of 1 to 10.