Luminescent material based on the [Eu(TTA)3(H2O)2] complex incorporated into modified silica particles for biological applications.

Amino-functionalized luminescent silica particles were investigated for use in immunoassays. The particles were prepared by the Stöber method where the [Eu(TTA)3(H2O)2] complex (TTA: 3-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate) was incorporated into silica particles during the hydrolysis and condensation of TEOS: tetraethylorthosilicate. Then, the amino groups were introduced in the particle surface using APTS: 3-aminopropyltriethoxisilane. The resulting particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence spectroscopy. In order to demonstrate the viability of the use of luminescent particles as optical markers, an enzyme-substrate reaction was performed using HRP: horseradish peroxidase. It was possible to verify the binding of HRP-oxidized LDL (low density lipoprotein) and anti-oxLDL antibody-luminescent silica particles through the evaluation of the presence of HRP. The bioassay data open a broad field for the development of protein-tagged luminescent particles for use in biomedical sciences.