A method of preparing nanometer-sized oxide colloids suitable as substance carriers for size-sensitive diagnostic imaging and other biomedical applications is described. The nanometer-sized silica particles prepared by the Stober process were reacted with silane to obtain amine-terminated colloidal surfaces under aqueous conditions. The surface-modified colloids can be further treated to combine or conjugate with imaging agents and other diagnostic or therapeutic substances. The water-stable colloidal carriers are spherical and have a narrow size distribution that can be controlled to range from 10 to 200 nm. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.