Silicon-vacancy-doped nanodiamonds for molecular and cellular imaging
US9486163B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 21, 2014 |
| Grant date | Nov 8, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B21/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An imaging agent for detecting analytes in a biological environment includes functionalized, silicon vacancy center-containing nanodiamonds. Individual nanodiamonds of the imaging agent include at least one silicon vacancy center. The at least one silicon vacancy center can emit light having a wavelength in a narrow band in response to illumination having any wavelength in a wide range of wavelengths. The nanodiamonds are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte of interest. The nanodiamonds can additionally include other color centers, and the imaging agent can include a plurality of sets of nanodiamonds having detectably unique ratios of silicon vacancy centers to other color centers. The silicon vacancy centers in the nanodiamonds can have a preferred orientation enabling orientation tracking of individual nanodiamonds or other applications. A method for detecting properties of the analyte of interest by interacting with the imaging agent is also provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.