Highly Dispersed 3C Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles with a Polydopamine/Polyglycerol Shell for Versatile...

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles with lattice defects show promise for bioimaging and quantum sensing.
• Current limitations in controlling SiC nanoparticle physicochemical properties hinder their biomedical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop methods for deaggregating, coating, functionalizing, and labeling SiC nanoparticles for biomedical applications.
• To establish a platform for SiC nanoparticle-based bioimaging and biosensing.

Main Methods:

• A thermal-oxidation chemical-etching method for deaggregating SiC nanoparticles.
• Polydopamine and polyglycerol coatings for surface modification and nanoparticle dispersion.
• A single-pot method for creating multifunctional polyglycerol-modified SiC nanoparticles.
• Biotin-mediated immunostaining for selective labeling of CD44 proteins.

Main Results:

• Achieved deaggregated, metal-contaminant-free SiC nanoparticles with high yield.
• Demonstrated controllable polydopamine coating for gold nanoparticle decoration and photothermal applications.
• Showcased polyglycerol coating for excellent SiC nanoparticle dispersity.
• Successfully produced and utilized multifunctional SiC nanoparticles for selective cell surface protein labeling.

Conclusions:

• The developed methods are fundamental for advancing SiC nanoparticle applications in biomedicine.
• These techniques will accelerate the development of SiC nanoparticles for bioimaging and biosensing.
• SiC nanoparticles are poised for significant contributions to life science visualization and sensing.