Volume-labeled nanoparticles and methods of preparation
Compositions comprising nanosized objects (i.e., nanoparticles) in which at least one observable marker, such as a radioisotope or fluorophore, is incorporated within the nanosized object. The nanosized objects include, for example, metal or semi-metal oxide (e.g., silica), quantum dot, noble metal, magnetic metal oxide, organic polymer, metal salt, and core-shell nanoparticles, wherein the label is incorporated within the nanoparticle or selectively in a metal oxide shell of a core-shell nanoparticle. Methods of preparing the volume-labeled nanoparticles are also described.
1. A method for synthesizing volume-labeled nanosized objects, the method comprising reacting nanoparticle precursor molecules in the presence of at least one observable marker to produce said volume-labeled nanosized objects.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said nanoparticle precursor molecules contain said observable marker.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said observable marker comprises a radioisotope.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said radioisotope has a half life of at least 25 days.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said radioisotope is selected from the group consisting of carbon-14, technetium-97, technetium-99, potassium-40, iodine-125, iodine-129, cesium-135, cesium-137, palladium-107, cadmium-113, strontium-90, europium-55, and tin-126.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said observable marker comprises a fluorophore.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nanoparticle precursor molecules are comprised of silicon-containing molecules containing an observable marker therein, and the resulting volume-labeled nanosized objects are comprised of a silicon oxide composition, wherein said silicon-containing molecules are subjected to hydrolysis conditions to produce said volume-labeled nanosized objects, and said silicon-containing molecules are selected from silicon alkoxide, silicon hydroxide, silylamide, and silicon halide molecules.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said observable marker comprises a radioisotope.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said radioisotope has a half life of at least 25 days.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said radioisotope comprises carbon-14.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising synthesizing said silicon-containing molecules containing an observable marker therein, wherein said silicon-containing molecules containing an observable marker therein are synthesized by reacting, via an addition reaction, a vinyl-containing silane molecule with an acrylic acid derivative containing an observable marker therein.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said silicon-containing molecule containing an observable marker therein is a polysiloxane molecule containing a multiplicity of observable markers therein.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said observable marker is a radioisotope.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said radioisotope comprises carbon-14.
15. The method of claim 7 , further comprising synthesizing said silicon-containing molecules containing an observable marker therein, wherein said silicon-containing molecules containing an observable marker therein are synthesized by reacting an observable marker containing a first reactive group with a silane molecule containing a second reactive group reactive with the first reactive group.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said observable marker is a fluorophore.
17. The method of claim 7 , wherein said silicon-containing molecules containing an observable marker therein are deposited and hydrolyzed on the surfaces of core nanoparticles, such that a volume-labeled silica core is deposited on said core nanoparticles.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said core nanoparticles have a magnetic metal oxide composition.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein said core nanoparticles have a quantum dot composition.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein said core nanoparticles have a noble metal composition.