@article {Santra:June 2005:1533-4880:899,
	author = "Santra, Swadeshmukul",
	author = "Liesenfeld, Bernd",
	author = "Dutta, Debamitra",
	author = "Chatel, David",
	author = "Batich, Christopher D.",
	author = "Tan, Weihong",
	author = "Moudgil, Brij M.",
	author = "Mericle, Robert A.",
	title = "Folate Conjugated Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles for Labeling Neoplastic Cells",
	journal = "Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology",
	volume = "5",
	year = "June 2005",
	abstract = "We describe a novel technique of using fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSNPs) to detect over-expressed folate receptors, as typical for certain malignancies (metastatic adenocarcinoma, pituitary adenoma and others). Using Stöber's method with some modification, 135 nm size FSNPs were synthesized by a hydrolysis and co-condensation reaction of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), fluorescein labeled (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTS) and a water-dispersible silane reagent, (3-trihydroxysilyl)propyl methylphosphonate (THPMP) in the presence of ammonium hydroxide catalyst. Folic acid (folate) was covalently attached to the amine modified FSNPs by a carbodiimide coupling reaction. The characterization of folate-FSNPs was performed using a variety of spectroscopic (UV-VIS and fluorescence), microscopic (transmission electron microscopy, TEM) and light scattering techniques. Folate conjugated FSNPs were then targeted to human squamous cancer cells (SCC-9). Laser scanning confocal images successfully demonstrated the labeling of SCC-9 cells and the efficacy of FSNP based detection system.",
	pages = "899-904(6)",
	url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asp/jnn/2005/00000005/00000006/art00009"
	doi = "doi:10.1166/jnn.2005.146"
}