Nano-ruby: A promising fluorescent probe for background-free cellular imaging

Bioprobes based on fluorescent ruby nanoparticles, which are suitable for ultrasensitive imaging, are reported. A stable aqueous/buffer colloid, permitting facile conjugation to proteins, is produced by femtosecond laser ablation of ruby and the nanoparticles (mean size 17 nm) are photostable, with long lifetime (1-4 ms) 694 nm emission. With time-gating complete (>20 dB) suppression of cell autofluorescence and suppression of exogenous fluorophores is observed. Nanoparticles are imaged in as-grown cells and those immunolabeled with quantum dots. Immunoassay binding to target biomolecules is also demonstrated.