Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of analyzing and/or purifying inorganic nanoparticles that may be functionalized with one or more dye group. Analyzing and/or purifying the inorganic nanoparticles includes utilizing liquid chromatography, such as, for example, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Methods of the present disclosure may be used to determine the location of one or more dye groups on and/or in the inorganic nanoparticles. The present disclosure also provides methods of making inorganic nanoparticles and compositions of inorganic nanoparticles.

Abstract: Methods of obtaining and kits that can be used to obtain an optical super-resolution image of a sample or a portion thereof or an individual or a portion thereof. In various examples, the individual is an individual with cancer. In various examples, a method includes contacting a sample or individual with one or more aluminosilicate nanoparticle(s) that have at least one organic fluorophore molecule covalently bonded to the aluminosilicate network of the nanoparticle(s), or a composition including the aluminosilicate nanoparticle(s); irradiating the sample or the individual, thereby exciting at least one of the fluorophore molecules of an individual aluminosilicate nanoparticle; and obtaining a fluorescence image or a sequence of fluorescence images, which can be processed to obtain a super-resolution image of the sample or the individual. In various examples, the sample is a biological sample, living or fixed tissues and/or cells, or a biopsy obtained from an individual.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of analyzing and/or purifying inorganic nanoparticles that may be functionalized with one or more dye group. Analyzing and/or purifying the inorganic nanoparticles includes utilizing liquid chromatography, such as, for example, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Methods of the present disclosure may be used to determine the location of one or more dye groups on and/or in the inorganic nanoparticles. The present disclosure also provides methods of making inorganic nanoparticles and compositions of inorganic nanoparticles.

Abstract: Provided are sulfur- or heavy atom-containing silica or aluminosilica nanoparticles. A nanoparticle can have at least one dye molecule covalently bonded to the silica or aluminosilica matrix of the silica or aluminosilica nanoparticle, respectively. The nanoparticle may have a size, such as, for example, a longest dimension, of less than 10 nm. The silica or aluminosilica nanoparticle can be used in methods such as, for example, imaging methods and photodynamic therapy methods. The imaging methods can provide sub-diffraction limit resolution.