On the incorporation of Rhodamine B and 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein dyes in silica: Synthesis of fluorescent nanoparticles

• Incorporation of Rhodamine and dichlorofluorescein dyes into silica nanoparticles.
• Föster resonant energy transfer process was observed in fluorescent nanoparticles.
• Fluorescent nanoparticles were successfully modified with folic acid.

The present paper reports the incorporation of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) and Rhodamine B (RhB) dyes in silica nanoparticles by using the Stöber’s method with some modifications. Based on infrared and electronic spectroscopies, these dyes were successfully incorporated resulting in fluorescent nanomaterials of an average size of 80 nm. A composite fluorescent nanomaterial containing both dyes was also synthesized and showed the occurrence of Förster resonant energy transfer process (FRET) with the average distance between the donor (DCF) and acceptor (RhB) of 3.6 nm. Furthermore, these fluorescent nanoparticles were modified with folic acid producing nanomaterials whose Zeta potential values were in the range of −2 to −13 mV. These values are consistent with the low dispersivity observed by TEM micrographs. Altogether, these suitable properties can lead to the development of nanomaterials for cancer bioimaging and drug release.

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