Core–shell nanoparticles are versatile nanostructures that can be used as luminescent biosensing platforms in many nanotechnological developments. Ultraluminescent fluorescent gold core–shell nanoparticles based on Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) were synthesized. The nanoparticles obtained were formed by 40.0 nm cores and variable silica spacer lengths. Silica spacer lengths from 6.0 to 25.0 nm were obtained. The plasmon maximal wavelength of the core–shell nanoparticles was shifted to a longer wavelength from a gold nanoparticle plasmon centered at 537.0 nm to 545.0 nm and 548 nm from 6.0 nm to 20.0 nm spacer length, respectively. The effect of the gold core on emission was evaluated by determination of Metal Enhanced Fluorescence enhancement factors (MEF_EF), applying the sodium cyanide method for core leaching. We observed maximal MEF_EF = 8.1 and 7.2 for 6.0 and 14.0 nm, respectively, and a significant decrease at longer silica spacer lengths. From nanoimaging by confocal fluorescence microscopy it was possible to detect ultraluminescent gold core–shell nanoparticle aggregates and obtain an MEF_EF that can rise to 40. These parameters and properties were discussed from the point of view of fluorescent platform applications. Moreover in order to show the potential application of these nanoparticles in biodetection and nanomedicine, Escherichia coli bacteria were labelled with ultraluminescent nanoparticles. Bright and clear bacteria images were obtained by laser fluorescence microscopy. Based on these results, future applications for individual bacterial detection will be developed.

This is a short communication based on recent high-impact publications related to how various chemical materials and substrate modifications could be tuned for nano- and microdevices, where their application for high point-of-care bioanalysis and further applications in life science is discussed.

Alternative and sensitive spectrofluorimetric methods for the determination of hydroxyindoles, such as serotonin (5HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIA), were developed on the basis of supramolecular interaction with cyclodextrin (CD) nanocavities (βCD and hydroxypropyl-βCD, HPCD) at different pH values. Both substrates and receptors have acidic protons, therefore the interactions produced in different systems were considered. The effects of neutral CD at pH 2.00 and 6.994, and of anionic CD at pH 13.00 on the specific acid-base species of the compounds at each pH were determined. In all the conditions studied, the fluorescence of the substrates in the presence of CD increased. The association constants (K(A), mol(-1)L) between the substrates and CD were determined (30-300) and interpreted. A zero-crossing first-derivative spectrofluorimetric method with and without HPCD was developed for the simultaneous determination of 5HT and 5HIA. The limits of detection (L(D), ng mL(-1)) for the best conditions were 0.37 for 5HT and 0.50 for 5HIA at pH 2.00 with HPCD. These L(D) proved to be better than others reported. The applicability of the direct and derivative spectrofluorimetric methods to urine samples was demonstrated with good recoveries 92-110% and R.S.D. 1-10%.

Fluorescent silica nanoparticles (NPs–(SiO₂–Fluo)) were synthesized based on the classical Störber method for cyanobacteria labelling. Modified mono-coloured SiO₂ NPs with fluorescein (Fl) and rhodamine B (RhB) were obtained (NPs–(SiO₂–Fl) and NPs–(SiO₂–RhB)). Moreover, multi-coloured SiO₂ NPs, via the incorporation of both emitters (NPs–(SiO₂–RhB–Fl)), were tuned for optimal emissions and the biodetection of cyanobacteria. NPs–(SiO₂–Fl) and NPs–(SiO₂–RhB–Fl) were optimized for detection via laser fluorescence microscopy and in-flow cytometry with laser excitation and fluorescence detection. By TEM, homogeneous SiO₂ NPs of 180.0 nm in diameter were recorded. These sizes were slightly increased due to the covalent linking incorporation of fluorescent dye emitters to 210.0 nm with mono-coloured fluorescent modified amine-organosilanes, and to 340.0 nm in diameter with multi-coloured dye incorporation. NPs–(SiO₂–Fluo) showed variable emission depending on the dye emitter concentration, quantum yield and applied luminescent pathway. Thus, mono-coloured NPs–(SiO₂–Fl) and NPs–(SiO₂–RhB) showed diminished emissions in comparison to multi-coloured NPs–(SiO₂–RhB–Fl). This enhancement was explained by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between Fl as a fluorescent energy donor and RhB as an energy acceptor produced within the nanoarchitecture, produced only in the presence of both fluorophores with the appropriate laser excitation of the energy donor. The depositions of the nano-emitters on cyanobacteria by non-covalent interactions were observed by TEM and laser fluorescence microscopy. For multi-coloured NPs–(SiO₂–RhB–Fl) labelling, bio-FRET was observed between the emission of the nano-labellers and the natural fluorophores from the cyanobacteria that quenched the emission of the whole nano-biostructure in comparison to mono-coloured NPs–(SiO₂–Fl) labelling. This fact was explained and discussed in terms of different fluorescence energy transfer from the nanolabellers towards different natural chromophore coupling. In the presence of NPs–(SiO₂–RhB–Fl) and NPs–(SiO₂–RhB), the emission was coupled with lower quantum yield chromophores; while upon the application of NPs–(SiO₂–Fl), it was coupled with higher quantum yield chromophores. In this manner, for enhanced luminescent nanoplatform tracking, the multi-coloured NPs–(SiO₂–RhB–Fl) showed improved properties; but more highly luminescent bio-surfaces were generated with mono-coloured NPs–(SiO₂–Fl) that permitted faster cyanobacteria detection and counting by laser fluorescence microscopy, and by in-flow cytometry with laser excitation and fluorescence detection.

Gold core–shell nanoparticles were synthesized based on metallic cores, variable silica shell spacers covered with modified fluorescent silica layers. Ultraluminescent properties were obtained based on metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF). Different silica spacers were synthesized to optimize the MEF enhancement factor ($MEFEF$). An optimal $MEFEF$ was determined equal to 9.5 for shorter silica spacers ($d−SiO2−=10nm$). These nanoparticles were deposed on Escherichia coli bacteria at different concentration levels for Bioimaging generation over their surfaces. The best luminescent nanoparticles were deposed on intermediate and higher bacteria concentrations. In the presence of intermediate bacteria concentrations, the ultraluminescent nanoparticles adsorbed showed an increase of 35% to 45% compared with individual nanoparticles. To modify the surface of individual bacteria, diluted samples of bacteria were used in which a 20% decrease in fluorescence emission was measured. In the presence of higher bacteria concentrations, fewer clear and bright images were obtained. At diluted ultraluminescent nanoparticle concentrations, a decrease in brightness and image detail was observed; and in the absence of nanoparticle deposition, no image was recorded. Accordingly, these ultraluminescent gold core–shell nanoparticles have been shown to be useful as platforms for biodetection and tracking applications.

<!-- *** Custom HTML *** --> Tunable fluorescent silica nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) with variable sizes based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer were synthesized. The SiO₂ NPs were obtained by the Störber method by varying tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) concentrations and with the incorporation of different concentrations of fluorescein (Fl) and rhodamine B (RhB) conjugated with 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. We thus recorded homogeneous SiO₂ NPs of different sizes. By transmission electron microscopy imaging, the sizes of 200, 280, and 380 nm were determined. The Fl and RhB fluorescent dyes showed well-overlapped emission from the fluorescent energy donor to the energy acceptor with the optimal ratio of quantum yields. By static fluorescence, varied emissions were recorded according to the concentration ratio of the donor–acceptor pair. Increasing intensity values were collected with the addition of higher concentrations of the fluorescent energy donor and decreased fluorescent lifetime decays. By laser fluorescence microscopy, higher enhanced surfaces were produced in the presence of both emitters, as compared with those in the presence of mono-colored SiO₂ NPs with optimal excitation with the fluorescent energy donor only. These NPs were well dispersed in polar solvents; however, due to their polar surface and size, higher interactions produced dimeric nanoaggregates. In addition, to evaluate their applications, their depositions were evaluated over modified glass slide substrates for smart light-responsive materials and over Cyanobacteria and Escherichia coli for the development of nanobiostructures with varied optical activities.