Er3+-Yb3+ co-doped nanoparticles as contrast agents for near infrared biomedical photoacoustic imaging application

Abstract

Er3+-Yb3+ co-doped KGd3F10 cores, prepared by an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-assisted hydrothermal synthesis, and core-shell Er3+-Yb3+ KGd3F10@SiO2 particles, prepared through Stöber method have been morphologically and optically characterized. Besides being employed in nanothermometry, both core and core-shell have also been exploited as contrast agents for photoacoustic images (PAI). Results of PAI upon excitation at 520 nm and 980 nm in the Er3+-Yb3+ core and core-shell nanoparticles in ethanol suspension are demonstrated and its biomedical applications discussed.