Core/Shell fluorescent silica nanoparticles for lifescience applications

AcZon core-shell silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) represent a novel class of probes for biological applications. SiNPs are spherical and their diameter varies between 10 and 70 nm; they are made up of two structural compartments: the core and the shell. During the synthetic procedure, the chemical-physical characteristics of the SiNPs can be personalized according to the intended use. They can be modified, both internally (core) and externally (shell) according to the intended use.

The nanoparticle itself acts as a shield which protects the molecule hosted in the inner part. As a result, all the molecules included in the nanoparticle core are not affected by external agents as pH and even by continuous light irradiation.

Thanks to the spherical shape of nanoparticles and the consequent elevated surface/volume ratio, more active molecules (such as enzymes, drugs, chelating agents, etc) can be conjugated to a single targeting molecule assuring a consistent signal enhancement.

The shield effect exerted by nanoparticle, allows the application of a revolutionary purification protocol of bioconjugated assuring a higher purity degree of the final conjugated with consequent reduced background signals. In brief, the protection offered to the sensitive dyes included in the nanoparticles, allows the adoption of an affinity chromatography purification step which requires a low pH elution otherwise impossible to apply due to the intrinsic sensitivity of conventional used probes. The coupling of the historically used purification method by size exclusion chromatography to the second affinity step, increases the purity degree of the final conjugated over 90% .