Silicon nanoparticles: a platform towards multimodal imaging

Multimodal imaging combines information from several imaging techniques in order to accurately image and diagnose various medical conditions. A well designed probe can offer imaging prospects using optical imaging, positron emission tomography using a radioactive label and magnetic resonance imaging.[1]
Silicon nanoparticles are an interesting material for biological and medical applications. These nanoparticles combine the low toxicity of silicon and the ultrasmall size (< 5 nm) achievable through wet chemistry techniques.[2] The surface termination of silicon nanocrystals can be functionalized from simple amino acid groups to photoemissive dyes, radiotracers and targeting agents, such as peptides, thus making silicon nanoparticles an interesting platform for targeted multimodal imaging.
After synthesis and purification, the crucial step towards the utilization of silicon nanoparticles as multimodal probes is the modification of the surface. An accurate quantification of the number of available functional groups is both important and a great challenge to determine.
Our research is focused on the surface modification and characterization of silicon nanocrystals and their use as imaging agent in biomedicine.

[1]. Louie A. Multimodality Imaging Probes: Design and Challenges. Chem.Rev. 2010, 110, 3146-3195. Doi:10.1021/cr9003538
[2]. Shiohara A., Lai P.-S., Northcote P, Tilley R.D. Sized controlled synthesis, purification, and cell studies with silicon quantum dots. Nanoscale. 2011, 8, 2040-3364. Doi: 10.1039/C1NR10458F