Patent ID: 8722017

Claim:
A nanoprobe, comprising: a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticle, wherein the SPIO nanoparticle has a silanization coating on the surface of the SPIO nanoparticle, wherein the silanization coating is about 5 nm to 1000 nm thick, does not include silicates or silica, and is made of cross-linked trimethoxyl silanes that are cross-linked with two or more different types of functional groups, such that the functional groups are on the surface of the coated SPIO nanoparticle, wherein the functional groups are selected from the group consisting of: a mercapto group, an amino group, a PEG group, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, and a combination thereof; and at least ten fluorescent compounds attached to an outside surface of the silanization coating, wherein the silanization coating provides a protective effect for the compounds.