Fluorescent Particles
AssigneeLife Technologies Corporation
InventorsAdam YORK, Eric WELCH, Kyle GEE, Xin WANG, Robert AGGELER, Yi-Zhen HU
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Abstract
Water-soluble, fluorescent particles and compositions, kits, and methods of making and using such particles are disclosed. Processes for preparing fluorescent particles and for controlling the size, polydispersity and optical properties of such particles also are provided.
Claims37
A water-dispersible fluorescent particle comprising:
- an internal hydrophobic region comprising a mixture of one or more first hydrophobic polymers and one or more second hydrophobic polymers, wherein the first hydrophobic polymer is fluorescent and has a first solubility parameter and the second hydrophobic polymer is non-fluorescent and has a second solubility parameter, and wherein the first and second solubility parameters differ by less than 1 cal1/2 cm−3/2;
- and
- an external region encapsulating the internal hydrophobic region, wherein the external region comprises one or more amphiphilic polymers, wherein each of the one or more amphiphilic polymers comprises at least one hydrophobic segment embedded in the internal hydrophobic region and at least one hydrophilic segment that renders the particle dispersible in water.
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The particle of claim 17, wherein the organic dye is selected from the group consisting of boron dipyrromethenes (4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene, BODIPY dyes), cyanines, xanthenes, sulfonated pyrenes, rhodamines, coumarins, and derivatives thereof.
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A fluorophore, comprising:
- a hydrophobic, semiconducting, fluorescent polymer comprising a first fluorescent polymer unit and a second fluorescent polymer unit linked to an organic dye, wherein the fluorescent polymer comprises 5 mol % or less of the second fluorescent polymer unit, wherein upon excitation at an appropriate wavelength of light, the fluorescent polymer transfers energy to the organic dye, such that the organic dye emits light at a second wavelength.
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A method for preparing a water-dispersible, fluorescent particle, comprising:
- dissolving one or more amphiphilic polymers and one or more fluorescent, first hydrophobic polymers and one or more non-fluorescent, second hydrophobic polymers in an organic solvent to provide a first solution, wherein the weight of fluorescent polymer relative to the total weight of the hydrophobic polymers in the polymer solution is 95% or less;
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- introducing the first solution into water or an aqueous solution comprising a buffering agent or salt at a flow rate of 10 m/sec or greater to flash precipitate fluorescent particles having a mean intensity hydrodynamic diameter about 20 nm to about 100 nm, as measured by dynamic light scattering.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.