| abstract |
Metal/silica core-shell nanoparticles, such as silver/silica core-shell nanoparticles, having low polydispersity, and a process for their preparation, are described. The nanoparticles may comprise one or more fluorophores embedded with the silica shell, as well as one or more targeting moieties, such as an antibody, attached to the silica shell. Use of such nanoparticles for various applications, including the detection of the presence of a biomolecule on the surface of a cell, is also described. |