High resolution fluorescence bio-imaging upconversion nanoparticles in insects

Abstract

Abstract:Imaging fluorescent markers with brightness, photostability, and continuous emission with auto fluorescence background suppression in biological samples has always been challenging due to limitations of available and economical techniques. Here we report a new approach, to achieve high contrast imaging inside small and difficult biological systems with special geometry such as fire ants, an important agricultural pest, using a homemade cost-effective optical system. Unlike the commonly used rare-earth doped fluoride nanoparticles, we utilized nanoparticles with a high upconversion efficiency in water. Y O : Er , Yb + + nanoparticles (40-50 nm diameter) were fed to fire ants as food and then a simple illuminating experiment was conducted at 980 nm wavelength at relatively low pump intensity 8 kW.cm −2 . The locations were further confirmed by X-ray tomography, where most particles aggregated inside the ant's mouth. High resolution, fast, and economical optical imaging system opens the door for studying more complex biological systems. Milliron, B. E. Cohen, and P. J. Schuck, "Engineering bright sub-10-nm upconverting nanocrystals for singlemolecule imaging," Nat Nano 9(4), 300-305 (2014). 3599-3602 (2015). 15. G. Chen, H. Qiu, P. N. Prasad, and X. Chen, "Upconversion nanoparticles: design, nanochemistry, and applications in theranostics," Chem. Rev. 114(10), 5161-5214 (2014). 16. J. Chen and J. X. Zhao, "Upconversion nanomaterials: synthesis, mechanism, and applications in sensing,"Sensors (

Fluorescent nanoparticles as tools in ecology and physiology

“…), pumpkin, thale cress, and mung bean have been reported, demonstrating the potential of UCNPs for plant imaging (Hischemöller et al ., 2009; Peng et al ., 2012; Nordmann et al ., 2015; Modlitbová et al ., 2019). Imaging experiments with UCNPs have also been performed in small animals such as jellyfish and ants (Chen et al ., 2015 b ; Alkahtani et al ., 2017). UCNP‐based tools have been developed for sensing the spatiotemporal localisation of Zn ions in zebrafish during embryo development (Hu et al ., 2019) and for detection of nitrate (LOD 100 μg/l) in Chinese cabbage ( Brassica rapa ; Yang et al ., 2018 c ).…”

Advanced Near‐Infrared Light‐Responsive Nanomaterials as Therapeutic Platforms for Cancer Therapy

“…[104] Y 2 O 3 :Er,Yb UCNPs were fed to fire ants and the UCPL and scattering results were scanned by a 2D galvanoscanner at a scan rate of 100 Hz over 5 mm × 5 mm area, which were recorded using a photon counter (Hamamatsu photon counter model number, H7155-21). [104] Y 2 O 3 :Er,Yb UCNPs were fed to fire ants and the UCPL and scattering results were scanned by a 2D galvanoscanner at a scan rate of 100 Hz over 5 mm × 5 mm area, which were recorded using a photon counter (Hamamatsu photon counter model number, H7155-21).…”

“…In an in vivo study, Alkahtani et al utilized water‐soluble Y 2 O 3 : Er, Yb UCNPs (40–50 nm diameter) as efficient UCPL contrast agents to image the special geometry in fire ants . Y 2 O 3 :Er,Yb UCNPs were fed to fire ants and the UCPL and scattering results were scanned by a 2D galvanoscanner at a scan rate of 100 Hz over 5 mm × 5 mm area, which were recorded using a photon counter (Hamamatsu photon counter model number, H7155‐21).…”

Aggregation-Induced Fluorescence Upconversion of Pyrene under Low Fluence: In Solutions and Polymeric Nanoparticles

“…The exploitation of low-energy photons to excite higher-energy excited states is prevalent in myriads of applications in renewable energy production, high-sensitivity oxygen detection, anticounterfeiting, and bioimaging and photodynamic theory. − Despite numerous studies on two-photon absorption and its applications, − two-photon absorption requires the use of expensive pulsed lasers for exciting samples owing to necessary coherence. An economical alternative would be the development of single-photon absorption methods for generating higher-energy excited states, from which the ensuing fluorescence upconversion emission has considerably advanced since the discovery of upconversion fluorescence in noncovalently linked organic systems by Parker and Hatchard. , Triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA), where energy is stored in different excited triplet molecules that collide to generate both higher-energy excited-singlet state and ground-state species, has previously been adopted as an important mechanism. − Reportedly, photon upconversion also involves other mechanisms, such as lanthanide-based upconversion. − However, other mechanisms have fewer wavelength options, limited efficiencies, and a high excitation threshold. , In contrast, TTA upconversion (TTA-UC) is more flexible about the choice of excitation and emission wavelengths simply by independently selecting both triplet sensitizer and acceptor of the upconversion system .…”