Biocompatible and Biodegradable Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles with In Vitro Photostable Near-Infrared Emission: Short-Term Fluorescent Markers

Abstract

Imaging of biological matter by using fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) is becoming a widespread method for in vitro imaging. However, currently there is no fluorescent NP that satisfies all necessary criteria for short-term in vivo imaging: biocompatibility, biodegradability, photostability, suitable wavelengths of absorbance and fluorescence that differ from tissue auto-fluorescence, and near infrared (NIR) emission. In this paper, we report on the photoluminescent properties of magnesium oxide (MgO) NPs that meet all these criteria. The optical defects, attributed to vanadium and chromium ion substitutional defects, emitting in the NIR, are observed at room temperature in NPs of commercial and in-house ball-milled MgO nanoparticles, respectively. As such, the NPs have been successfully integrated into cultured cells and photostable bright in vitro emission from NPs was recorded and analyzed. We expect that numerous biotechnological and medical applications will emerge as this nanomaterial satisfies all criteria for short-term in vivo imaging.

Recent Applications of Magnesium Oxide (MgO) Nanoparticles in various domains

“…These nanoparticles utilize enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) which binds to receptor binding ligands that are present on the surface of tumor cells. Magnesium nanoparticles act as a carrier of chemotherapeutic drugs to deliver them to the targeted tumor cell for improvement and minimization of toxicity [114].…”

Silk Fibroin Coated Magnesium Oxide Nanospheres: A Biocompatible and Biodegradable Tool for Noninvasive Bioimaging Applications

“…Metal oxide NPs [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] have been gaining interest as contrast agent for several bioimaging applications owing to their room temperature single photon emission [ 1 , 3 ], tunable optical properties [ 4 ] and low toxicity. However, there are several limitations to the use of these metal oxide NPs, as some of them demonstrate low quantum efficiency and brightness [ 2 , 3 ], high agglomeration in cell culture media [ 2 ], while others exhibit dose dependent cytotoxicity [ 5 ]. One example is zinc oxide that exhibits broadband emission in the visible region, attributed to defects within the crystallographic structure, suitable for in vitro experiments.…”

“…In NP-form, MgO has extensive applications in biology including a catalytic agent for medicine, contrast agent for MRI imaging [ 9 ] and is widely studied for its antibacterial [ 10 ] and anticancer properties [ 11 ]. These NPs have a unique combination of biocompatibility and biodegradability in addition to being intrinsically fluorescent [ 2 ]. In a recent work [ 2 ], we have reported intrinsic photostable fluorescence properties of MgO NPs, from naturally occurring chromium Cr 3+ and vanadium V 2+ ions, in the visible to near infrared (NIR) range, used for real-time live cell tracking in cells derived from normal and cancerous tissues.…”

“…These NPs have a unique combination of biocompatibility and biodegradability in addition to being intrinsically fluorescent [ 2 ]. In a recent work [ 2 ], we have reported intrinsic photostable fluorescence properties of MgO NPs, from naturally occurring chromium Cr 3+ and vanadium V 2+ ions, in the visible to near infrared (NIR) range, used for real-time live cell tracking in cells derived from normal and cancerous tissues.…”

Two-Step Triethylamine-Based Synthesis of MgO Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Effect against Pathogenic Bacteria

“…Among the well-known metallic oxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 , CuO, ZnO, etc. ), magnesium oxide (MgO) is the least studied for biological and antimicrobial applications [ 9 ]; nevertheless, its high ionic character, simple stoichiometry, crystalline structure, the presence of superficial punctual defects, the availability of materials, their low cost, and their excellent biocompatibility make the magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) an excellent candidate for biological applications [ 21 , 22 , 27 , 29 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”