Er 3+ /Yb 3+ co-doped bioactive glasses with up-conversion luminescence prepared by containerless processing

Upconversion Luminescence of Silica–Calcia Nanoparticles Co-doped with Tm3+ and Yb3+ Ions

“…The experimental results indicate that these new up-converting nanoparticles are promising materials for biological testing and applications; although, further investigation is mandatory to optimize the properties of the system. Compared to the commonly used nanoparticles like fluorides, bioactive glasses have many advantages, such as non-toxicity, biocompatibility, the possibility of surface functionalization, and more environment-friendly synthesis methods [ 25 , 26 , 42 ]. The luminescent ions in the amorphous glass are weaker coordinated, so usually, the emission from these ions is less intense and has a lower efficiency compared to fluorides and thus, the way these two materials might be used is different.…”

“…Recently, lanthanides co-doped with ytterbium ions were introduced into bioactive glass matrices to study their optical properties and upconversion luminescence. For example, Li et al described a couple of Er 3+ /Yb 3+ ions in CaSiO 3 [ 25 ] and Kalaivani et al doped sol–gel-derived glasses of SiO 2 –Na 2 O–CaO–P 2 O 5 with Tb 3+ and Yb 3+ [ 26 ]. The systems were tested to estimate their biological properties and applications for regenerative medicine.…”

Bioactive glasses incorporating less-common ions to improve biological and physical properties

“…Furthermore, Li et al [ 128 , 131 ] investigated co-doped BGs with Er and Yb to provide conventional BGs with luminescence properties for biological labeling and drug delivery applications. Er 2 O 3 (0.79–3.52 wt.%) and Yb 2 O 3 (6.36–28.12 wt.%) were incorporated in Ca-Mg-Si BGs [ 131 ], as well as Er 2 O 3 (1–2 wt.%) and Yb 2 O 3 (9–18 wt.%) in CaSiO 3 [ 128 ]. In both investigations, bioactivity studies showed that co-doped BGs exhibited apatite precipitation in interaction with SBF after 14 days [ 128 , 131 ].…”

“…Er 2 O 3 (0.79–3.52 wt.%) and Yb 2 O 3 (6.36–28.12 wt.%) were incorporated in Ca-Mg-Si BGs [ 131 ], as well as Er 2 O 3 (1–2 wt.%) and Yb 2 O 3 (9–18 wt.%) in CaSiO 3 [ 128 ]. In both investigations, bioactivity studies showed that co-doped BGs exhibited apatite precipitation in interaction with SBF after 14 days [ 128 , 131 ]. Furthermore, these materials did not show cytotoxic behavior to MC3T3-E1 cells, human dermal fibroblasts cells (HDFs), and HUVECs [ 128 , 131 ].…”

“…In both investigations, bioactivity studies showed that co-doped BGs exhibited apatite precipitation in interaction with SBF after 14 days [ 128 , 131 ]. Furthermore, these materials did not show cytotoxic behavior to MC3T3-E1 cells, human dermal fibroblasts cells (HDFs), and HUVECs [ 128 , 131 ]. In addition, culture of HDFs and HUVECs with the ionic extracts of the Er 3+ and Yb 3+ co-doped Ca-Mg-Si BGs showed enhanced cell proliferation, expression of angiogenic genes and cell migration in comparison to non-doped glasses [ 131 ].…”