Versatile Silicon Nanoparticles with Potential Uses as Photoluminiscent Sensors and Photosensitizers

PAULA CAREGNATO; MONICA CRISTINA GONZALEZ; CRISTIAN LILLO; JUAN JOSE ROMERO; MARIA LAURA DELL ARCIPRETE; HERNAN B. RODRIGUEZ

Photochemistry. Volumen 44.

Royal Society of Chemistry

Año: 2016; p. 324 - 347

Silicon nanoparticles (including silicon clusters and 1?4 nm size silicon nanocrystals,SiCs) combine size ? dependent photoluminescence, the capacity for singlet oxygenand superoxide radical anion generation, and the richness of silicon surface derivatization.Surface modifications as coating/linking with folate, antibodies, adjuvants, and aplethora of other substances may lead to an increased aqueous solubility, stability,biocompatibility, targeting potential, and circulation time in biological systems.Size, synthetic procedures and surface derivatization/oxidation may strongly affect theparticles efficiency for reactive oxygen species photosensitization and the interactionwith small molecules and biological entities. Thus, through intelligent design it is possibleto develop multifunctional nanoparticles with potential applications in imaging, diagnosis,and therapy. Herein, we present and discuss the properties that make SiCspotential photosensitizers for biological uses and describe the most widely used synthesisand surface functionalization procedures in order to help understanding the basicsof photoluminescent SiCs and as a guide for researchers aiming to find new applicationsbased on these particles.