Fluorescent Metal Nanoshells: Lifetime-Tunable Molecular Probes in Fluorescent Cell Imaging.

ABSTRACT: We reported the preparation of lifetime-tunable fluorescent metal nanoshells and used them as lifetime imaging agents for potential detection of multiple target molecules by a single cell imaging scan. These metal nanoshells were generated to have 40 nm silica cores and 10 nm silver shells. Three kinds of metal-ligand complexes tris(5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(II) (Ru(NH(2)-Phen)(3) (2+)), tris(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3) (2+)), and tris(2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine))ruthenium(II) (Ru(dpp)(3) (2+)) that have similar excitation and emission wavelengths but different lifetimes were respectively encapsulated in the cores of metal nanoshells for the purpose of fluorescence. Compared with the metal-free silica spheres, these metal nanoshells were found to display enhanced

SUBMITTER: Zhang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3130523 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature