Colloidal solutions of luminescent porous silicon clusters with different cluster sizes

0438768 - FZÚ 2015 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Herynková, Kateřina - Podkorytov, E. - Šlechta, Miroslav - Cibulka, Ondřej - Leitner, J. - Pelant, Ivan
Colloidal solutions of luminescent porous silicon clusters with different cluster sizes.
Nanoscale Research Letters. Roč. 9, č. 1 (2014), 1-5. ISSN 1931-7573. E-ISSN 1556-276X
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : nanocrystalline silicon * porous silicon * cluster size * luminescent markers
Subject RIV: BM - Solid Matter Physics ; Magnetism
Impact factor: 2.779, year: 2014

Silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs) are promising for biological studies due to their good biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the detailed studies of the interaction of various types of Si-ncs with biological environment are still rare. Suitable size and solubility of the Si-ncs in water-based isotonic solutions are important towards bringing the nanocrystals inside the living cells. We have prepared colloidal solutions of luminescent porous silicon of different cluster sizes in methanol, water and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). By combination of ultrasonic treatment with filtration, we have obtained two different silicon cluster sizes in methanol (120 and 525 nm) and three different cluster sizes (85, 210 and 1,500 nm) in PBS. Nanoclusters of oxidized porous silicon are hydrophilic and well soluble in water and PBS. They can be further used for studies on the biocompatibility of these materials and may be employed as luminescent markers in living cells in biological research.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0242133