Luminescence and X-ray Absorption Properties of Uniform Eu3+:(H3O)Lu3F10 Nanoprobes

Abstract

Due to the high atomic number of lutetium and the low phonon energy of the fluoride matrix, Lu-based fluoride nanoparticles doped with active lanthanide ions are potential candidates as bioprobes in both X-ray computed tomography and luminescent imaging. This paper shows a method for the fabrication of uniform, water-dispersible Eu3+:(H3O)Lu3F10 nanoparticles doped with different Eu contents. Their luminescent properties were studied by means of excitation and emission spectra as well as decay curves. The X-ray attenuation capacity of the phosphor showing the highest emission intensity was subsequently analyzed and compared with a commercial contrast agent. The results indicated that the 10% Eu3+-doped (H3O)Lu3F10 nanoparticles fabricated with the proposed polyol-based method are good candidates to be used as dual probes for luminescent imaging and X-ray computed tomography.

Dysprosium and Holmium Vanadate Nanoprobes as High-Performance Contrast Agents for High-Field Magnetic Resonance and Computed Tomography Imaging

“…The higher X-ray attenuation capacity of our CAs when compared with Iohexol can be attributed to the higher atomic number of Dy (Z = 66) and Ho (Z = 67), as compared with that of I (Z = 53), since it is well known that the X-ray attenuation coefficient increases with the fourth power of Z. 25 The similar Z value for Dy and Ho therefore justifies the similar X-ray attenuation properties of the Dy and Ho based samples.…”

Polyol Synthesis: A Versatile Wet-Chemistry Route for the Design and Production of Functional Inorganic Nanoparticles

“…This one-pot liquid-phase synthesis provides, with a good reliability, particles with interesting features-such as a narrow size distribution (2-4 nm), high crystallinity, high dispersibility in water, and deep-red fluorescence-which may be used as emitting biomarkers for histology. Another example of a polyol-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles for bio-imaging applications is that illustrated by the work of Becerro et al [55]. Indeed, they succeeded in producing, in polyol, nanometer-sized Eu 3+ :(H 3 O)Lu 3 F 10 single crystals.…”