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Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), with appropriate surface coating, are commonly used for biomedical applications such as photodynamic therapy (PDT). This work describes the preparation and characterization of methylene blue (MB)-containing silica-coated SPIONs. Upon exposure to light, MB reacts with molecular oxygen and generates singlet oxygen (1O2) which is cytotoxic and causes irreversible damage to tumor tissues. In this work, SPIONs were synthesized by co-precipitation and coated with a single/double silica layer. The photoactive molecule MB was entrapped in the silica layer deposited on the surface of SPIONs, leading to the formation of hybrid nanomaterials composed of a magnetic core and silica layer. The nanocomposite exhibited magnetic behavior at room temperature due to the presence of its Fe3O4 core. Structural and morphological characterizations were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), SQUID magnetic measurements, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and dynamic light scattering. The results showed the presence of a crystalline Fe3O4 magnetic core and amorphous silica phases. Kinetic measurements revealed 1O2 generation by the nanoparticles upon irradiation with visible light (λ = 532 nm or λ = 633 nm). The results highlight the potential uses of SPIONs coated with MB-entrapped silica for PDT, whereby a sustained and localized generation of 1O2 was successfully achieved.

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In this study, we reported the production of polyaniline and niobium oxide hybrids synthesized by the direct reaction between niobium peroxyoxalate complex and anilinium salt in an aqueous medium. The...

Real-time tuning of photoluminescence properties are highly desirable for potential applications. Thus, one proposed approach is to tune the photoluminescence emissions by applying an external electric field. However, in order to switch the ferroelectric polarization, high quality bulk ceramics is demanded. In this work, soft and hard Er3+-doped (K,Na)NbO3 piezophotonic ceramics were prepared by the conventional route and their microstructural, structural and up-conversion emission properties were investigated. Dense and free from secondary phases ceramics were successfully produced. The photoluminescence spectra, in the visible range, were characterized as a function of the pumping power. For the soft composition, a remarkable green shift was verified with increasing the laser power. It was supposed that the excited state absorption, involving a three-photon absorption process, was involved in the 4S3/2→4I15/2 transition. For the hard composition, the two-photon absorption process was dominant and the presence of complex defects reduced significantly the 4F9/2→4I15/2 transition.