Patent ID: 9605304
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: B82Y,C12Q

Claim:
1. A conjugate comprising: (i) a nanoparticle having an outer surface; (ii) a silica layer coated on said outer surface of said nanoparticle; and (iii) a plurality of macromolecules attached directly to said outer surface of said nanoparticle via a linkage group; wherein said linkage group resides within said silica layer; wherein said plurality of macromolecules comprises members selected from the group consisting of an oligonucleotide, an aptamer, a small interfering RNA, a peptide, a protein, an antibody, and polyethylene glycol; and wherein said members are exposed and functionally accessible; wherein said nanoparticle is a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) or a silver nanoparticle (AgNP); wherein said silica layer is formed with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS); wherein after hydrolysis and polycondensation of trimethoxysilyl groups of said MPTMS a single or a few silica monolayers are formed; and wherein said linkage group displays greater thermal and chemical stability when compared to the same linkage group in a conjugate without said silica layer.