Red/near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes bearing methacryloyl groups were synthesized, and these dyes were covalently bonded to poly (2- hydroxyethyl methacrylate)(PHEMA)–silica hybrids. The preparation of their hybrids was performed by simultaneous sol–gel reaction of trimethoxy (methyl) silane and radical copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with the dyes under microwave ...