Multifunctional NaYF₄:Yb, Er@mSiO₂@Fe₃O₄-PEG nanoparticles for UCL/MR bioimaging and magnetically targeted drug delivery

Abstract

A low toxic multifunctional nanoplatform, integrating both mutimodal diagnosis methods and antitumor therapy, is highly desirable to assure its antitumor efficiency. In this work, we show a convenient and adjustable synthesis of multifunctional nanoparticles NaYF4:Yb, Er@mSiO2@Fe3O4-PEG (MFNPs) based on different sizes of up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). With strong up-conversion fluorescence offered by UCNPs, superparamagnetism properties attributed to Fe3O4 nanoparticles and porous structure coming from the mesoporous SiO2 shell, the as-obtained MFNPs can be utilized not only as a contrast agent for dual modal up-conversion luminescence (UCL)/magnetic resonance (MR) bio-imaging, but can also achieve an effective magnetically targeted antitumor chemotherapy both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the UCL intensity of UCNPs and the magnetic properties of Fe3O4 in the MFNPs were carefully balanced. Silica coating and further PEG modifying can improve the hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of the as-synthesized MFNPs, which was confirmed by the in vitro/in vivo biocompatibility and in vivo long-time bio-distributions tests. Those results revealed that the UCNPs based magnetically targeted drug carrier system we synthesized has great promise in the future for multimodal bio-imaging and targeted cancer therapy.

Targeted delivery and pH-responsive release of stereoisomeric anti-cancer drugs using β-cyclodextrin assemblied Fe3O4 nanoparticles

“…In addition, in terms of drug release, the nanocarrier can be used to satisfy different needs of treament. According to the literature, the pure β-CD [42,43] or MNPs [44,45] …”

In vivo targeted magnetic resonance imaging and visualized photodynamic therapy in deep-tissue cancers using folic acid-functionalized superparamagnetic-upconversion nanocomposites

“…By synthesizing PS-loaded Gd-based upconversion nanocomposites, 60 the T 1 -weighted MRI and NIR-triggered PDT were previously reported, which demonstrated the simultaneous MRI and deeptissue PDT in vitro and in vivo [33][34][35][36][37]. Considering the good biocompatibility of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, superparamagnetic-upconversion nanocomposites were 65 previously synthesized by silica assisting method, and were also investigated for MRI and fluorescent imaging [29,[38][39][40][41][42]. However, it was more interesting of designing photosensitizerloaded iron oxide-UCL nanocomposites for T 2 -weighted MRI and NIR-triggered visualized PDT in deep-tissue tumors.…”

Multimodal Cancer Imaging Using Lanthanide-Based Upconversion Nanoparticles

“…Usually, Ln-based UCNPs serve as fluorescent units, and superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIONs) or Gd-based inorganic NPs are applied as magnetic units so as to achieve the combinations of UCL and MRI imaging. The representative examples include Fe 3 O 4 @ NaLuF 4 :Yb,Er/Tm [100], NaYF 4 :Yb/Tm@Fe x O y [101], NaYF 4 :Yb, Er@mSiO 2 @Fe 3 O 4 [102] and NaYF 4 :Yb/ Er@Fe 3 O 4 @Au [103,104], among others. In addition, coating Gd-based nanoshell onto the surface of UCNPs core is another effective approach to construct multimodal imaging probes.…”