Coprecipitation Method of Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity of Pr³⁺:LaF₃ (C_Pr = 3, 7, 12, 20, 30%) Nanoparticles

Abstract

The Pr3+:LaF3 (CPr = 3, 7, 12, 20, 30%) nanoparticles were characterized by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, optical spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and MTT assay. It was revealed that the average diameter of all the NPs is around 14–18 nm. The hydrodynamic radius of the Pr3+:LaF3 (CPr = 7%) nanoparticles strongly depends on the medium. It was revealed that hydrodynamic radii of the Pr3+:LaF3 (CPr = 7%) nanoparticles in water, DMEM, and RPMI-1640 biological mediums were 18 ± 5, 41 ± 6, and 186 ± 8 nm, respectively. The Pr3+:LaF3 (CPr = 7%) nanoparticles were nontoxic at micromolar concentrations toward COLO-320 cell line. The lifetime curves were fitted biexponentially, and for the Pr3+:LaF3 (CPr = 7%) NPs, the luminescence lifetimes of Pr3+ ions were 480 ± 2 and 53 ± 5 nanosec.

Characterization of Pr-Doped LaF3 Nanoparticles Synthesized by Different Variations of Coprecipitation Method

“…The reduction of Pr 3+ :LaF 3 lattice parameters apparently related to crystal lattice distortion. The radius of Pr 3+ (0.105 nm) is smaller than that of La 3+ (0.113 nm) due to the lanthanide contraction, so the cell volume of Pr 3+ :LaF 3 reduces with more Pr 3+ replacing La 3+ [14].…”

“…Among these methods of synthesis, a coprecipitation method is considered one of the cheapest and easiest methods of synthesis of NPs [13]. On the one hand, it provides a synthesis of LnF 3 NPs with desired size, shape, and structure [14]. Usually, this method does not require toxic organic precursors as well as sophisticated and expensive laboratory equipment.…”

Luminescence Nanothermometry Based on Pr3+ : LaF3 Single Core and Pr3+ : LaF3/LaF3 Core/Shell Nanoparticles

“…e single core NPs were synthesized via the coprecipitation method [35]. In order to synthesize both Pr 3+ : LaF 3 (C Pr � 1%) nanospheres and nanoplates, 0.04 g of Pr 2 O 3 and 4.00 g of La 2 O 3 were added to 85 mL of 10% nitric acid in a glass beaker.…”

“…For both core and core/shell nanoplates, the interlayer distance between two fringes which are parallel to the upper and lower pedestals of the plate was measured to be ∼0. 35 nm which corresponds to the [002] plane of the LaF 3 crystal. Hence, it can be suggested that the preferred growth of the nanoplates takes place along both [100] and [010] planes under the existing conditions of synthesis [42].…”

“…More importantly, the doping ions form clusters. ese phenomena affect the crystal field around the doping ions which makes the shape of the lifetime curves more complicated in comparison with analogous bulk crystals [35,36]. For these reasons, the modern theoretical approaches for some rare earth ions in some matrices are developed [36][37][38].…”