Photoluminescent silica-based sensors and methods of use
AssigneeCornell Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsAndrew A. Burns, Erik Herz, Tara C. Zedayko, Ulrich Wiesner
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Abstract
Sensor particles comprise a silica-based core and at least one photoluminescent dye. The silica-based core may comprise a plurality of pores and the at least one photoluminescent dye may comprise a reference dye, insensitive to its environment and analytes and a sensor dye, sensitive to either or both of the foregoing. The sensor particles may be employed to sense unknown environmental conditions or analytes in biological or non-biological systems, in vitro or in vivo.
Claims16
A silica-based particle comprising a silica-based core and two or more photoluminescent dyes, the two or more photoluminescent dyes comprising at least one reference dye and at least one sensor dye, wherein:
- (a) the reference dye and the sensor dye are chemically different dyes,
- (b) the reference dye and the sensor dye are separated in different compartments of the nanoparticle or are located within the same compartment of the nanoparticle, and
- (c) at least one of the reference dye and the sensor dye is covalently bonded to the silica-based core,
- said reference dye exhibiting a relatively constant photon emission and said sensor dye exhibiting different photon emissions in different environments or at different concentrations of an analyte present therein.
A photoluminescent nanoparticle comprising a porous silica-based core, a silica-based shell surrounding at least a portion of the core and two or more photoluminescent dyes, wherein the two or more photoluminescent dyes comprise at least one reference dye and at least one sensor dye, wherein the reference dye and the sensor dye are chemically different dyes, with the reference dye positioned in the core and the silica-based shell interposed between the reference dye and the sensor dye, said reference dye exhibiting a relatively constant photon emission and said sensor dye exhibiting different photon emissions in different environments or at different concentrations of an analyte present therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.