Fluorescent Carbon Nanoparticles
AssigneeClemson University
InventorYa-Ping Sun, JR.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are photoluminescent particles. The particles include a core nano-sized particle of carbon and a passivation agent bound to the surface of the nanoparticle. The passivation agent can be, for instance, a polymeric material. The passivation agent can also be derivatized for particular applications. For example, the photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles can be derivatized to recognize and bind to a target material, for instance a biologically active material, a pollutant, or a surface receptor on a tissue or cell surface, such as in a tagging or staining protocol.
Claims16
1-12. (canceled)
A method of forming a photoluminescent nanoparticle comprising:
- providing a carbon nanoparticle;
- coupling a passivation agent to the surface of the carbon nanoparticle, wherein upon coupling of the passivation agent to the surface of the carbon nanoparticle, the passivated carbon nanoparticle exhibits photoluminescence.
A method for detecting the presence of a compound in a sample comprising:
- contacting a sample with a carbon nanoparticle, wherein the sample comprises a compound that is bindable to the carbon nanoparticle;
- binding the carbon nanoparticle to the compound to form a complex, wherein the photoluminescent properties of the complex differ from the photoluminescent properties of at least one of the compound and the carbon nanoparticle;
- and
- detecting the compound according to the photoluminescent properties of the complex.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.