SiO2 beads with quantum dots: Preparation and stability investigation for bioapplications

► SiO2 beads with hydrophilic CdTe or hydrophobic CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were prepared. ► The SiO2 beads with CdTe QDs retained high photoluminescence efficiencies up to 40%. ► Multiple CdSe/ZnS QDs were assembled into SiO2 beads through surface silanization. ► The Stern-Volmer quenching constant of QDs depended the thickness and porous type of SiO2 shell.