Multiple functions
incorporated in one single-component nanoplatform
pave the way for important biomedicine applications. Herein, a multifunctional
terbium-doped gadolinium orthophosphate (GdPO4:Tb-EDTA)
nanoplatform was prepared through a simple, ecofriendly, one-step
hydrothermal method. Results showed that dipicolinic acid (DPA), the
biomarker of bacterial spores, significantly increased the fluorescence
intensity of this nanoplatform and conferred it with rapid response
and excellent selectivity. Subsequently, the fluorescence of the ensemble
GdPO4:Tb-EDTA-DPA can be remarkably quenched by Cu2+, which led to a rewritable nanosensor used in the detection
of cysteine (Cys) with excellent sensitivity. In addition, GdPO4:Tb-EDTA can also be a potential T
1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, which
indicated a satisfactory in vitro MRI with r
1 relaxivity values of 13.9 mM–1 s–1 and in vivo MRI through intravenous
administration on a rat model. Overall, the proposed assay may have
great theoretical and practical significance for designing multifunctional
biomaterials.