MM-Dots are fluorescent dyes encapsulated in non-magnetic silica beads ranging form 20 nm up to 10 µm. They are longlasting fluorescents avoiding shortcomings of conventional organic fluorescent dyes. Furthermore they may be an efficient and cost effective alternative to the quantum dot technology in research, biotechnology and drugdiscovery. First samples of prototypes in different bead sizes with different dyes will be available soon for purposes of research.