Fabrication and Cell Imaging of Room Temperature Phosphorescent Silica Nanomaterials

A room temperature phosphorescent (RTP) silica nanomaterial was prepared using sol-gel method and characterized by TEM, XRD and photoluminescence spectra. The results demonstrate that the obtained sample was silica with a diameter of about 50 nm. The maximum fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths of the silica nanomaterical were 280 and 335 nm, and the maximum phosphorescence excitation and emission wavelengths of the silica nanomatericals were 280 and 440 nm. The sample possessed the room temperature phosphorescence that was stable against environmental changes. The sample was stored in air at ambient conditions and its phosphorescence remained unchanged after 3 month demonstrated its long-term stability. Furthermore, the obtained RTP silica nanoparticle is noncytotoxic and can serve as bioprobes for cellular imaging.

Graphical abstractA room temperature phosphorescent (RTP) silica nanomaterial with room temperature phosphorescence of great environmental and long-term stability was synthesized and characterized. Tracing and imaging analysis of the RTP silica nanoparticles were performed by using laser-scanning confocal fluorescent microscopy which demonstrated that RTP silica nanoparticles could be taken up by the cells and localize to the lysosomal compartment.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide