Last Updated: 27/05/2025
Star-dots fluorescent nanoparticles for flow cytometry and biomedical imaging
Objectives
Physical encapsulation (versus the currently used standard chemical bonding) of existing fluorescent dyes allows the use of a large number of commercially available dyes with no modification, including hard-to-modify near-infrared dyes. However, despite these advantages, Star-dots cannot be used for biomedical applications as of yet. Therefore this project divided in two phases has the following objectives:
For Phase I:
- Functionalization of Start-dots with tagging molecules and demonstrate that this functionalization preserves Star-dot high fluorescent brightness.
- Coating Star-dots with protective molecules (like polyethylene glycol) to decrease nonspecific interactions will also be explored.
- Test the feasibility of using Star dots for multiplexing applications
For PhaseII:
- Development of commercial prototype products
Fluorescent nanoparticles (FNP) are becoming increasingly popular in biomedical imaging and tagging. Compared to molecule-based fluorophores, FNP are typically brighter and more photostable. They can be functionalized with more than one tagging molecule, used for the tagging and tracing of specific molecules, cells, tissues. Brighter fluorescence facilitates more sensitive labeling, and in many cases, a lower limit of detection. In flow cytometry it may open new limits of detecting low number of receptors on cells and exosomes. NanoScience Solutions LLC (NSS) is developing exceptionally bright nanoporous silica FNP (suggested commercial name “Star-dots”), nanoporous silica FNP, in which fluorescent dye molecules are physically encapsulated in a specific nano-environment of cylindrical nanochannels. To the best of our knowledge, Star-dots are the brightest currently available FNP.
Mar 2019 — Nov 2020
$149,787
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