Towards the realization of luminescence from visible emitting trivalent lanthanides (Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy) in polar zinc sulfide nanoparticles: evaluation of in vitro cytotoxicity

Abstract

This study develops water dispersible trivalent terbium cation incorporated zinc sulfide nanoparticles for potential anti-cancer therapy and cellular imaging.

Role of reactant concentration and identity of added cation in controlling emission from post-synthetically modified terbium incorporated zinc sulfide nanoparticles: an avenue for the detection of lead(ii) cations

“… 34,35 We have been interpreting the luminescence sensitization of dopant moieties in semiconductor nanoparticles using a photophysical model in which the dopants act as a charge (electron and/or hole) traps in the host matrix and the exciton recombination at these trap sites populates the dopant luminescent energy levels, thereby generating host sensitized dopant emission from the composite host (semiconductor nanoparticles)–Ln 3+ (guest) assembly. 22,30–32,36,37 …”

“…The synthesis of hydrophilic ZnS nanoparticles was based on a report by Sarma and co-workers 21 for undoped ZnS nanoparticles with additional modifications for terbium incorporated ZnS [Zn(Tb)S] nanoparticles. 22 Briefly, 1.98 mmol of zinc acetate hydrate, 1.56 mmol of thiourea, 0.22 mmol of terbium acetate hydrate and 50 ml DMF were loaded into a 100 ml three neck round bottom flask. The solution was degassed under vacuum at room temperature for a period of 30–45 minutes.…”

Assessing inter lanthanide photophysical interactions in co-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles for multiplex assays

“…Towards the general goal to use Ln 3+ photoluminescence for practical applications, we have been working on developing systems with semiconductor nanoparticles as the host, with relevant emphasis on understanding the underlying photophysical processes. 38,39,[42][43][44][45][46][47] Deciphering the light induced processes provide an opportunity to develop novel host (semiconductor nanoparticles)-guest (Ln 3+ ) composite system with predictable photoluminescence properties, without necessarily approaching the problem on a combinatorial basis. Recently we have reported a systematic photoluminescence study with Ln 3+ (Ln ¼ Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb) incorporated TiO 2 [Ti(Ln)O 2 ] nanoparticles and found Ti(Nd)O 2 and Ti(Sm)O 2 nanoparticles as the suitable candidates with signicant host sensitized Ln 3+ emission.…”

What Is Beyond Charge Trapping in Semiconductor Nanoparticle Sensitized Dopant Photoluminescence?

“…Toward the goal of understanding the underlying photophysical properties of Ln-doped, semiconductor NPs and developing design principles for producing materials with predictable properties, we have undertaken studies with hydrophobic Zn­(Ln)S [Ln = Eu, Tb] and other II – VI metal chalcogenides, as a function of NP size and dopant density, , hydrophilicity, , and near bandgap matched Sn­(Ln)­O 2 and Zn­(Ln)S [Ln = Sm, Tb] NPs. These studies have revealed that the Zn­(Tb)­S, Ti­(Nd)­O 2 , and Ti­(Sm)­O 2 NPs produce the strongest host sensitized Ln 3+ photoluminescence; a number of other NPs, including [Zn­(Eu)­S, Ti­(Eu)­O 2 , Ti­(Ho)­O 2 , Ti­(Er)­O 2 , Ti­(Tm)­O 2 , Ti­(Yb)­O 2 ], display a moderate sensitized emission intensity, and some, including Zn­(Sm)­S, Zn­(Dy)­S, Ti­(Pr)­O 2 , Ti­(Gd)­O 2 , Ti­(Tb)­O 2 , and Ti­(Dy)­O 2 , display no sensitized emission.…”

“…Lanthanide luminophores are finding important new applications in biological imaging, optoelectronics, sensing, laser technology, and telecommunications; among others. 1,5−13 Toward the goal of understanding the underlying photophysical properties of Ln-doped, semiconductor NPs and developing design principles for producing materials with predictable properties, we have undertaken studies with hydrophobic Zn(Ln)S [Ln = Eu, Tb] 14 and other II − VI metal chalcogenides, 14 as a function of NP size and dopant density, 15,16 hydrophilicity, 17,18 lifetime with that for freely diffusing Ln 3+ ions in bulk solvent reveals a significant lengthening of the emission lifetime in the NPs, suggesting a protection of the Ln 3+ in the NPs from nonradiative decay processes that may originate from the nearby environment. In addition, these studies showed that the spectral overlap between the donor (semiconductor NPs) emission and acceptor (Ln 3+ ) absorption is not a good predictor for the luminescence sensitization in these systems.…”