ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors provide an overview of the synthesis, characterization, modification, and bioimaging and bioanalysis application of FloDots in their research group. FloDots have significant advantages over organic fluorophores and quantum dots. The reverse microemulsion method is mainly used for the preparation of hydrophilic dye-doped FloDots and the W. Stober method is mostly used for the synthesis of hydrophobic dye-doped FloDots. When the reverse microemulsion method was applied for FloDot preparation, the luminescent dye needs to be well dissolved in the water droplet and then doped inside the hydrophilic silica shell. The luminescence properties of the FloDots are generally tested by a spectrofluorometer. The FloDots have very similar absorption and emission spectra as those of the embedded dye molecules, and the maximal excitation and emission wavelengths of the FloDots may be slightly shifted from those of the pure dye molecules.
