A silica particle for medical imaging includes a bridged silane fluorescent dye incorporated throughout the particle matrix. Copolymerization of a bridged silane fluorescent dye (e.g., (R′O)3Si—R—Si(OR′)3, where R is a fluorescent organic bridging group, and where R′ is a methyl or ethyl group) and a tetralkoxysilane (e.g., Si(OR′)4, where R′ is a methyl or ethyl group) generates particles of a predetermined size and shape. This leaves the surface of each particle available for further modification to facilitate dispersion of the particle into different media. Hence, a surface modifier may be subsequently bonded onto the particle surface. In some embodiments, poly(ethylene glycol) is selected as the surface modifier to increase dispersion of the silica particle in an aqueous media. In some embodiments, the particle is porous allowing for an additional functionality (e.g., a secondary imaging material, such as magnetic nanoparticles, and/or a pharmaceutical drug) to be loaded within the pores.
