Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles

• US 7,829,772 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clemson University
• Original Assignee: Clemson University
• Inventors: Sun, Ya-Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung; Unsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUM, LEON YUN BON
• Application Number:
  US11/814,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20080113448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 424/489
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/05 Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/025 non-luminescent particle coatings or suspension media
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/65 containing carbon in organic compounds C09K11/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/587 Nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/70 Nanostructure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/702 having biological material component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/703 Cellular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/704 Nucleic acids, e.g. DNA or RNA
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/705 Protein or peptide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/773 Nanoparticle, i.e. structure having three dimensions of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 Coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2998 including synthetic resin or polymer

Abstract

Disclosed are photoluminescent particles. The particles include a core nano-sized particle of carbon and a passivation agent bound to the surface of the nanoparticle. The passivation agent can be, for instance, a polymeric material. The passivation agent can also be derivatized for particular applications. For example, the photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles can be derivatized to recognize and bind to a target material, for instance a biologically active material, a pollutant, or a surface receptor on a tissue or cell surface, such as in a tagging or staining protocol.

Claims

1. A nanoparticle comprising a carbon core and a passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, wherein the carbon core is less than about 100 nanometers in size, the carbon core defining a surface, the carbon core comprising excitation energy traps existing at the surface, wherein the carbon core surface is photoluminescent due to the presence of the passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, the passivation agent stabilizing the excitation energy traps.

2. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the carbon core comprises amorphous carbon.

3. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the carbon core is less than about 30 nanometers in size.

4. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the carbon core is between about 1 and about 10 nanometers in size.

5. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is a polymer.

6. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is a biopolymer.

7. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is covalently bonded to the carbon core.

8. The nanoparticle of claim 1, the nanoparticle further comprising a material embedded in the carbon core.

9. The nanoparticle of claim 8, wherein the material is a metal.

10. The nanoparticle of claim 8, wherein the material is magnetic.

11. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent comprises reactive functionality.

12. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticle further comprises a member of a specific binding pair bound to the passivation agent.

13. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent comprises a protein or a peptide.

14. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is bound to a drug.

15. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is an element.

16. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is a molecular passivation agent.

17. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is grafted to the carbon core.

18. The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the passivation agent is noncovalently bound to the carbon core.

19. A nanoparticle comprising a carbon core and a passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, wherein the carbon core is less than about 100 nanometers in size and comprises crystalline carbon, the carbon core defining a surface, the carbon core comprising excitation energy traps existing at the surface, wherein the carbon core surface is photoluminescent due to the presence of the passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, the passivation agent stabilizing the excitation energy traps.

20. The nanoparticle of claim 19, wherein the carbon core is less than about 30 nanometers in size.

21. The nanoparticle of claim 19, wherein the carbon core is between about 1 and about 10 nanometers in size.

22. The nanoparticle of claim 19, wherein the passivation agent is a polymer.

23. The nanoparticle of claim 19, wherein the passivation agent is a biopolymer.

24. The nanoparticle of claim 19, wherein the passivation agent is covalently bonded to the carbon core.

25. The nanoparticle of claim 19, the nanoparticle further comprising a material embedded in the carbon core.

26. The nanoparticle of claim 19, wherein the passivation agent comprises reactive functionality.

27. The nanoparticle of claim 19, wherein the nanoparticle further comprises a member of a specific binding pair bound to the passivation agent.

28. The nanoparticle of claim 19, wherein the passivation agent comprises a protein or a peptide.

29. The nanoparticle of claim 19, wherein the passivation agent is bound to a drug.

30. The nanoparticle of claim 19, wherein the carbon core comprises diamond.

31. A nanoparticle comprising a carbon core and a passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, wherein the carbon core is less than about 100 nanometers in size and comprises graphite, the carbon core defining a surface, the carbon core comprising excitation energy traps existing at the surface, wherein the carbon core surface is photoluminescent due to the presence of the passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, the passivation agent stabilizing the excitation energy traps.

32. The nanoparticle of claim 31, wherein the carbon core is less than about 30 nanometers in size.

33. The nanoparticle of claim 31, wherein the carbon core is between about 1 and about 10 nanometers in size.

34. The nanoparticle of claim 31, wherein the passivation agent is a polymer.

35. The nanoparticle of claim 31, wherein the passivation agent is a biopolymer.

36. The nanoparticle of claim 31, wherein the passivation agent is covalently bonded to the carbon core.

37. The nanoparticle of claim 31, the nanoparticle further comprising a material embedded in the carbon core.

38. The nanoparticle of claim 31, wherein the passivation agent comprises reactive functionality.

39. The nanoparticle of claim 31, wherein the nanoparticle further comprises a member of a specific binding pair bound to the passivation agent.

40. The nanoparticle of claim 31, wherein the passivation agent comprises a protein or a peptide.

41. The nanoparticle of claim 31, wherein the passivation agent is bound to a drug.