Multicolor core/shell silica nanoparticles for in vivo and ex vivo imagingElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Particle size distribution by DLS and TEM images. See DOI: 10.1039/c1nr11401h

Biocompatible highly bright silica nanoparticles were designed, prepared and tested in small living organisms for both in vivo and ex vivo imaging. The results that we report here demonstrate that they are suitable for optical imaging applications as a possible alternative to commercially available fluorescent materials including quantum dots. Moreover, the tunability of their photophysical properties, which was enhanced by the use of different dyes as doping agents, constitutes a very important added value in the field of medical diagnostics. Biocompatible highly fluorescent dual colour silica nanoparticles have been designed and successfully tested for in vivo and ex vivo imaging.