Abstract: A nanoparticulate imaging probe with an oxide core, a biocompatible polymeric shell covalently attached to the oxide core, a dye, and a cleavable spacer that covalently binds the dye to the probe. When the spacer is cleaved, the dye is liberated from the probe. The emissions of the dye are quenched when the dye is bound to the probe and not quenched when the dye is liberated from the probe. The spacer can be, for example, a peptide. The oxide core can be, for example, a silicon oxide core.

Abstract: A nanoparticulate imaging probe with an oxide core, a biocompatible polymeric shell covalently attached to the oxide core, a dye, and a cleavable spacer that covalently binds the dye to the probe. When the spacer is cleaved, the dye is liberated from the probe. The emissions of the dye are quenched when the dye is bound to the probe and not quenched when the dye is liberated from the probe. The spacer can be, for example, a peptide. The oxide core can be, for example, a silicon oxide core.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nanoparticle comprising self-assembled crosslinked, amphiphilic block copolymers and at least one immobilized dye, wherein the self-assembled, crosslinked, amphiphilic block copolymers comprise a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block, wherein the self-assembled, crosslinked, amphiphilic block copolymers are self-assembled to form a core of the nanoparticle comprising a hydrophobic block, wherein the hydrophobic block is derived from at least one pendant multifunctional crosslinked alkoxy silane or amino silane moiety, and an exterior of the nanoparticle comprising a hydrophilic block, and wherein the immobilized dye is immobilized in the core.