Abstract: Size-tunable phosphorescent particles may be formed through self-assembly of biocompatible linear polymers, such as chitosan and other linear polymers, that bear positive surface charges, through polyelectrolytic complexation to a polyanionic metal phosphor, such as polyanionic gold(I) phosphor (AuP). The phosphorescent hydrogel nanoparticles and thin films thereof are useful for imaging, sensing of biological molecules, detection of hypoxia, and light-emitting devices. The phosphorescent hydrogel particles can be formed from a variety of linear polymers by physical cross-linking using polyelectrolytic light-emitting species, without the need for the phosphorescent complex to be entrapped in an existing microsphere or nanosphere polymer particle.

Abstract: The present invention includes photochemical method of making hybrid metal-polymer microparticles in an aqueous, biocompatible solution by providing a metal (I) composition and one or more polymeric materials; applying an electromagnetic radiation to the metal (I) composition; converting the metal (I) composition to a metal (0) composition; forming one or more hybrid metal-polymer microparticles from the metal (0); capping the one or more hybrid metal-polymer microparticles; and stabilizing the one or more hybrid metal-polymer microparticles with the one or more polymeric materials to prevent agglomeration.

Abstract: Size-tunable phosphorescent particles may be formed through self-assembly of biocompatible linear polymers, such as chitosan and other linear polymers, that bear positive surface charges, through polyelectrolytic complexation to a polyanionic metal phosphor, such as polyanionic gold(I) phosphor (AuP). The phosphorescent hydrogel nanoparticles and thin films thereof are useful for imaging, sensing of biological molecules, detection of hypoxia, and light-emitting devices. The phosphorescent hydrogel particles can be formed from a variety of linear polymers by physical cross-linking using polyelectrolytic light-emitting species, without the need for the phosphorescent complex to be entrapped in an existing microsphere or nanosphere polymer particle.

Abstract: The present invention includes photochemical method of making hybrid metal-polymer microparticles in an aqueous, biocompatible solution by providing a metal (I) composition and one or more polymeric materials; applying an electromagnetic radiation to the metal (I) composition; converting the metal (I) composition to a metal (0) composition; forming one or more hybrid metal-polymer microparticles from the metal (0); capping the or more hybrid metal-polymer microparticles; and stabilizing the one or more hybrid metal-polymer microparticles with the one or more polymeric materials to prevent agglomeration.

Abstract: A new technique to stabilize transition metal phosphors in a wide variety of stimuli-sensitive polymers and gels is disclosed herein. Other than stabilization in stimuli sensitive/biocompatible matrix some of these transition metal based phosphors are also shown to act as phosphorescent crosslinkers that physically or chemically crosslink polymeric chains to form micro/nanoparticles. The microspheres/nanospheres of the present invention show decreased size and photoluminescence enhancement with particularly high sensitization at physiological pH and temperature. The so formed phosphorescent micro/nanospheres are useful for biological or environmental applications including biological labeling, imaging, and optical sensing. The techniques in the present invention enable usage of imaging agents and sensors at very low concentrations and also minimize or eliminate the usage of toxic chemical crosslinkers typically used to synthesize polymeric micro/nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention includes metal nanoparticles composition and methods of making and using the same by converting a metal (I) to a metal (0) and forming one or more metal nanoparticles from the metal (0). The one or more metal nanoparticles are stabilized with one or more biocompatible stabilizers to prevent agglomeration and make them amenable for biomedical applications.