In vitro cell imaging using multifunctional small sized KGdF4:Yb3+,Er3+ upconverting nanoparticles synthesized by a one-pot solvothermal process

Abstract

Multifunctional KGdF4:18%Yb(3+),2%Er(3+) nanoparticles with upconversion fluorescence and paramagnetism are synthesized. The average sizes of the nanoparticles capped with branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) and 6-aminocaproic acid (6AA) are ~14 and ~13 nm, respectively. Our KGdF4 host does not exhibit any phase change with the decrease of particle size, which can prevent the detrimental significant decrease in upconversion luminescence caused by this effect observed in the well-known NaYF4 host. The branched PEI and 6AA capping ligands endow our nanoparticles with water-dispersibility and biocompatibility, which can favor internalization of our nanoparticles into the cytoplasm of HeLa cells and relatively high cell viability. The strong upconversion luminescence detected at the cytoplasm of HeLa cells incubated with the branched PEI-capped nanoparticles is probably attributed to the reported high efficiency of cellular uptake. The magnetic mass susceptibility of our nanoparticle is 8.62 × 10(-5) emu g(-1) Oe(-1). This is the highest value ever reported in trivalent rare-earth ion-doped KGdF4 nanoparticles of small size (≤14 nm), and is very close to that of nanoparticles used as T1 contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging. These suggest the potential of our KGdF4:Yb(3+),Er(3+) nanoparticles as small-sized multifunctional bioprobes.

Hollow Structured Y2O3:Yb/Er–CuxS Nanospheres with Controllable Size for Simultaneous Chemo/Photothermal Therapy and Bioimaging

“…HRTEM image with three rectangle zones (d1, d2, and d3) and the corresponding FFT images are shown in Figure 3D and Figure S5 −CH 2 (2881 cm −1 ), and −NH 2 (1398 cm −1 ), indicating the successful modification of −NH 2 group. 56 After being conjugated with FA, Cu x S, and PEG, the peak at 1695 cm −1 is attributed to the −CO amide stretching of the α-carboxyl group from the FA molecules, and new peak at 3463 cm −1 is assigned to −OH group because of the modification of PEG. N 2 adsorption/desorption isotherms of Y 2 O 3 :Yb/Er−Cu x S hollow spheres with different diameters are given inFigure S7A in the Supporting Information.…”

Core/shell upconversion nanoparticles with intense fluorescence for detecting doxorubicin in vivo

“…For example, Wang et al reported a UCNP based uorescent biolabel for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen. 15 However, the HPLC method also encounters some shortcomings in the sample pretreatment, such as complex process, [19][20][21][22][23][24] long detection cycle 8,25 and low sensitivity. [26][27][28][29][30][31][32] In addition, assessing the toxicity of cancer drugs to biological tissues is very important 5,[33][34][35][36][37][38] and valuable to ensure the health of humans and other creatures.…”

LaF3:Ln mesoporous spheres: controllable synthesis, tunable luminescence and application for dual-modal chemo-/photo-thermal therapy

“…53 Compared with FMSs, HMSs have several characteristic absorptions of PEI at 2928 cm −1 , 1420 cm −1 , and 780 cm −1 , which can be assigned to the -CH asymmetric stretching vibration, -CN stretching vibration, and -NH stretching vibration in the carboxyl group, respectively. 54 The FT-IR result demonstrates that we have successfully modified the surface of the precursor by adding the PEI before generating HMSs. N 2 adsorption/desorption isotherms and the corresponding pore size distributions of LaF 3 :Ln HMSs and LaF 3 :Ln FMSs are shown in Fig.…”