Patent ID: 8877505

Claim:
A composition for stabilizing a quantum dot fluorescent particle or a quantum dot conjugate fluorescent particle, the composition having a pH greater than or equal to 7, the composition comprising: (a) (i) a substituted amine, other than an amino acid or an alkyl-substituted alkyl amine, the substituted amine having a formula R n NH (3-n) , where n=1, 2, or 3, each R is independently an aliphatic group, a heteroaliphatic group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, an alkyl aryl group, or an aryl alkyl group, and at least one R is substituted with one or more —OH, —OR 1 , —CO 2 R 1 , —CN groups, or combinations thereof, where R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic or aryl group, or (ii) an amine and a protein and/or protein hydrolysate, wherein at least one of the substituted amine, the amine, or the protein and/or protein hydrolysate is present at a concentration effective to stabilize and/or increase fluorescence intensity of a fluorescent particle stored in the composition relative to fluorescence intensity of the fluorescent particle stored in a composition devoid of (i) a substituted amine other than an amino acid or an alkyl-substituted alkyl amine, or (ii) an amine and a protein and/or protein hydrolysate; (b) a borate buffer comprising a salt concentration of from greater than zero to 2 M; (c) a preservative; and (d) a surfactant.