Abstract: The invention provides dye-doped nanoparticles comprising silica doped with molecules of a near infra red dye comprising 4,5-Benzo-1?-ethyl-3,3,3?,3?-tetramethyl-1-(4-sulfobutyl)indodicarbocyanin-5?-acetic acid N-succinimidyl ester, and dye-doped nanoparticles derivatised with a functional group. The invention further provides a method of manufacture of dye-doped nanoparticles comprising the steps of preparing a dye mixture by dissolving a dye in the surfactant hexanol and conjugating the dye with an organosilane, forming a microemulsion of water droplets in oil, adding the dye mixture to the microemulsion, and adding a source of silicon and a catalyst to the microemulsion, which causes growth of silica nanoparticles in the water droplets of the microemulsion which silica nanoparticles are doped with the dye. The invention further provides, in a dye-doped nanoparticle, a method of determining a % weight of the dye which yields a required relative fluorescent intensity from the nanoparticle.

Abstract: Nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and methods for making the nanoparticles and nanocomposites are disclosed. Illustrated methods include preparing a nanocomposite particle by binding a silicate compound to the surface of a core particle in an aqueous suspension, adding a silicate source and an organic surfactant template, and stirring the aqueous suspension to obtain silicate growth.

Abstract: Nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and methods for making the nanoparticles and nanocomposites are disclosed. Illustrated methods include preparing a nanocomposite particle by binding a silicate compound to the surface of a core particle in an aqueous suspension, adding a silicate source and an organic surfactant template, and stirring the aqueous suspension to obtain silicate growth.