Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to stable, luminescent, lanthanide-based nanoparticles and methods for making same. Thus, disclosed are lanthanide-based nanoparticles exhibiting a luminescence brightness of at least about 4%×(3×107 M?1 cm?1) with a particle diameter of less than about 100 nm; stable, luminescent nanoparticles with cores comprising at least one lanthanide chelate and a shell comprising organic silane residues; and processes for preparing a stable, luminescent nanoparticle, the process comprising the step of combining a basic protic solvent with a mixture of an alkylsilane and an aprotic solution of lanthanide chelate. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.