Characterization of QD@SiO2@PE-PEG. TEM images of (a) CdSe/ZnS QDs dispersed in chloroform, (b) QD@SiO2 in ethanol, (c) QD@SiO2-C18 in chloroform, and (d) QD@SiO2@PE-PEG in water. Scale bar, 50 nm. (e) DLS measurement of QD@SiO2 and QD@SiO2@PE-PEG showing a hydrodynamic diameter of 43.6 ±10.6 nm and 53.3±1.7 nm, respectively. (f) Absorbance (blue) and fluorescence (red) spectra of the QD@SiO2@PE-PEG nanoparticles.