Fluorescent Carbon Nanoparticles
AssigneeClemson University
InventorYa-Ping Sun
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims21
1-27. (canceled)
A nanoparticle comprising a carbon core and a passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, wherein the carbon core is less than about 100 nanometers in size, wherein the nanoparticle is photoluminescent.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the carbon core defines a surface, and the surface is photoluminescent due to the presence of the passivation agent coupled to the carbon core.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the carbon core defines a surface, and comprises excitation energy traps existing at the surface;
- and wherein the passivation agent stabilizes at least some of the excitation energy traps to encourage or stabilize the radiative recombination of excitons.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent forms a coating over at least a portion of the surface of the carbon core;
- the passivation agent is covalently bound to the surface at multiple locations;
- and the surface comprises bonding sites.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, further comprising a material embedded on the surface of the carbon core.
The nanoparticle of claim 5, wherein the material is chosen from metal and magnetic material.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the carbon core comprises a thermally carbonized particle of a carbon-rich polymer.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is chosen from poly(lactic acid), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(propionylethylenimine-co-ethylenimine), and poly(vinyl alcohol).
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent comprises a reactive functionality specific to a surface receptor of E. coli, a surface receptor of L. monocytogenes, a ligand particular to an antibody, a haptens particular to an antibody, a complete antigen, or an epitope of an antigen.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the carbon core comprises carbon, nickel, and yttrium.
The nanoparticle of claim 10, wherein carbon is present in an amount of about 95%, nickel is present in an amount of about 4%, and yttrium is present in an amount of about 1%, based on the weight of the carbon core.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the carbon core is less than about 30 nanometers in size.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the carbon core comprises crystalline carbon.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is a polymer.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is a biopolymer.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is covalently bonded to the carbon core.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is non-covalently bonded to the carbon core.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent comprises a protein or a peptide.
The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is bound to a drug.
A luminescent ink comprising a nanoparticle comprising a carbon core and a passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, wherein the carbon core is less than about 100 nanometers in size, wherein the nanoparticle is photoluminescent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.