Patent ID: 8906354

Claim:
A nanolatex particle comprising a latex material made from a mixture represented by formula: (X) m -(Y) n -(Z) o -(W) p wherein Y is at least one monomer with at least two ethylenically unsaturated chemical functionalities; Z is at least one polyethylene glycol macromonomer with an average molecular weight of between 300 and 10,000; W is an ethylenic monomer different from X, Y, or Z; and X is at least one water insoluble, alkoxethyl containing monomer represented by formula: wherein R1 is a radical selected from the group consisting of methyl and hydrogen, and R2 is a radical selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group and an aryl group; and m, n, o, and p are weight percent ranges of each component monomer, wherein m ranges between 40-90 percent by weight, n ranges between 1-10 percent by weight, o ranges between 20-60 percent by weight, and p is up to 10 percent by weight; and wherein said particle is loaded with a fluorescent dye compound, wherein the fluorescent dye compound is a water dispersible, near-infrared tricarbocyanine, enamine-functionalized dye compound having a Stokes shift of greater than 50 nm and represented by at least one of the following two general formulae wherein R1 and R2 are substituted alkyl and may together form a ring; A is NRa, S, O, Ra-C-Rb, wherein Ra and Rb are substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups capable of forming a ring; Rc is hydrogen, aryl, alkyl, alkoxy, or halogen; Rd is alkyl chain CH2(n)-CH3 where n=2 to 30, and/or aryl group; wherein R1 and R2 are substituted alkyl and may together form a ring; A is NRa, S, O, Ra-C-Rb, wherein Ra and Rb are substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups capable of forming a ring; Rc is hydrogen, aryl, alkyl, alkoxy, or halogen; Rd is alkyl chain CH2(n)-CH3 where n=2 to 30, and/or aryl group.