Studies involving metal enhancement effects have gained popularity, and enhancement of fluorescence due to the close proximity of a dye molecule to a metal nanoparticle is well documented. Although enhancement of singlet oxygen production by metal has been reported, studies are relatively scarce and so far only stationary silver island films have been proven to be adequate to do so. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of core-shell nanoparticles on which a photosensitizer acting as source of singlet oxygen has been covalently attached to the nanoparticle surface. As a proof of concept, silver nanoparticles with a diameter around 68 nm were chosen as the metallic core, and were coated by a silica shell of about 22 nm in thickness. The silica shell plays a dual role as a spacer and a medium onto which the photosensitizer, rose bengal (RB), has been covalently attached. These novel core-shell nanoparticles allow for the amplification of singlet oxygen production by 3.8 times, which is similar to the amplification found for RB in proximity of silver island films.
© 2013 The American Society of Photobiology.