The accurate determination of the local temperature is one of the most important challenges in the field of nanotechnology and nanomedicine. For this purpose, different techniques and materials have been extensively studied in order to identify both the best-performing materials and the techniques with greatest sensitivity. In this study, the Raman technique was exploited for the determination of the local temperature as a non-contact technique and titania nanoparticles (NPs) were tested as nanothermometer Raman active material. Biocompatible titania NPs were synthesized following a combination of sol-gel and solvothermal green synthesis approaches, with the aim of obtaining pure anatase samples. In particular, the optimization of three different synthesis protocols allowed materials to be obtained with well-defined crystallite dimensions and good control over the final morphology and dispersibility. TiO2 powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses and room-temperature Raman measurements, to confirm that the synthesized samples were single-phase anatase titania, and using SEM measurements, which clearly showed the nanometric dimension of the NPs. Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman measurements were collected, with the excitation laser at 514.5 nm (CW Ar/Kr ion laser), in the temperature range of 293–323 K, a range of interest for biological applications. The power of the laser was carefully chosen in order to avoid possible heating due to the laser irradiation. The data support the possibility of evaluating the local temperature and show that TiO2 NPs possess high sensitivity and low uncertainty in the range of a few degrees as a Raman nanothermometer material.
The determination of the local temperature is an interesting and intriguing topic in the nanotechnology and nanomedicine world, in terms of tuning the best noninvasive measurement protocol and identification of the more versatile and performing material. In this paper, the Raman technique and titania NPs have been exploited for the realization of a new optical nanotermometer. Biocompatible titania NPs have been properly synthesized, following a combination of sol-gel and solvothermal green synthesis approaches, with the aim of obtaining samples of pure anatase, characterized by crystallite dimensions defined and good control over the final morphology and dispersibility. Powder XRD measurements and room temperature Raman measurements confirmed that the synthesized samples are single-phase anatase. The SEM images clearly showed the nanometric dimension of NPs. Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman measurements, collected with the excitation laser at 514.5 nm (CW Ar/Kr ion laser), substantiate the possibility of evaluating the local temperature, which has been tested in the range of 298 -313 K, a range of interest for biological applications. The power of the laser has been carefully chosen in order to avoid eventual heating due to the laser irradiation. The data show that TiO2 NPs possess a high sensitivity and low uncertainty in the range of a few degrees as Raman nanothermometer material.
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