Nanoparticles recovering with functionalized silica

• Grant number: 07/05603-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2008
• End date: February 28, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Ana Maria Pires
• Grantee: Marlon Larry Laranja
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 07/00880-0 - Rare earth luminescent nano reporters and probes, AP.JP

Abstract

Nanophosphors can be prepared by using different methods, such as the polymeric precursor one, sol-gel, as well. When these kind of materials are doped with suitable rare earth ions they can be applied as immunoassays reporters. However, for the success of such system, there must be a particle functionalisation, i.e., the presence of a functional group capable of binding to specific reagents which will make feasible the following assay. So, the aim of this work is the investigation of alternative routes for the recovering with amino-functionalised silica of already prepared nanoparticles for then to be tested as reporters in immunoassays. Previous results indicated that a feasible synthetic route is the dispersion of nanoparticles in ethanolic medium and the addition of the appropriate silane under basic pH. In this case, tetraethylsilane (TEOS) was added and/or (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTS), whereas the later was the responsible for surface functionalisation with amino groups. The nanoparticles before and after the recovering did not present changes in their spectroscopic features. Therefore, it is possible the application of this method and it is of great interest the searching for alternatively routes that provide homogeneous systems.