Abstract: A class of core-shell-type fluorescent nanospheres with a particle diameter less than 40 nm, which emit orange, yellow, green and cyan light, respectively, were prepared. In fabricating strategy, the water-insoluble, photo-thermostable fluorescent dye molecules are molecularly dispersed and embedded in the nanoscale crosslinked polymeric matrix via a modified miniemulsion polymerization process, and then the biocompatible shells are achieved by a seeded polymerization technique. These obtained nanospheres are uniform in size, highly photostable, of high chemical resistance and high fluorescence quantum-yield.

Key words: Core-shell-type fluorescent nanospheres, Water-insoluble fluorescent dye, Modified miniemulsion polymerization, Seeded polymerization