Synthesis of Chlorophyll Entrapped Red Luminescent Silica Nanoparticles for Bioimaging Application

A class of luminescent porous, spherical silica nanoparticles have been synthesized using simple oil-in-water microemulsion process in the size range of 15-50 nm evident from TEM and FESEM analysis. Mechanism of successful stabilization of chlorophyll molecule inside the nanoparticles has been evaluated by FTIR studies, and also supported by UV-Vis spectra. The intense red luminescence of nanohybrid introduced by chlorophyll monomer in nanohybrid with 430 nm excitation supports its candidature as an attractive biofriendly material for diverse bio-imaging applications.