Optical nanoprobes for biomedical applications: shining a light on upconverting and near-infrared emitting nanoparticles for imaging, thermal sensing, and photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Shining a light on spectrally converting lanthanide (Ln3+)-doped nanoparticles: progress, trends, and challenges in Ln3+-nanoprobes for near-infrared bioimaging, nanothermometry, and photodynamic therapy.

Asymmetric attachment and functionalization of plasmonic nanoparticles on ceramic interfaces

“…2a) The electron microscope images in Fig. 2b illustrate the size and morphology of the Gd(OH)CO 3 •H 2 O particles before thermal treatment. As synthesized particles were spherical in shape, nearly, monodisperse and homogeneously distributed with average size of 100-120 nm, fitting the demand of biological application.…”

“…While refluxing an aqueous solution of Gd 3+ salt, urea serves as a precipitating agent for the Gd 3+ ions by shifting the pH value into basic conditions due to self-decomposition at elevated temperature. The Gd(OH)CO 3 •H 2 O precursor was further subjected to thermal treatment at 850 °C for 2 h. XRD analysis (Fig. 2a) The electron microscope images in Fig.…”

“…The hydrogen-carbonate precursor Gd(OH)CO 3 •H 2 O was prepared following the urea-based homogeneous precipitation method, established by Matijevic and coworkers in 1988 [30]. While refluxing an aqueous solution of Gd 3+ salt, urea serves as a precipitating agent for the Gd 3+ ions by shifting the pH value into basic conditions due to self-decomposition at elevated temperature.…”

“…Besides drug delivery applications, NPs are widely used for in vivo imaging techniques. To date, a variety of nanocolloidal systems are reported for optical bioimaging applications including rare-earth-doped nanoparticles [3], carbon nanodots [4], and metallic nanoshells [5]. While optical methods are range limited by light absorption of the examined body, and still, in need of invasive techniques, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is suitable for non-invasive imaging of malignant tissues.…”

Over-1000 nm near-infrared fluorescent biodegradable polymer nanoparticles for deep tissue in vivo imaging in the second biological window

“…The OTN-NIR region consists of the 'NIR-II' (the second biological window: 1000-1350 nm) and the 'NIR-III' (the third biological window: 1500-1800 nm) regions, and NIR light in these regions can penetrate the body deeper than the currently used NIR-I (first biological window: 700-900 nm) region. [3][4][5] Various nanomaterials, such as quantum dots, 6 single-wall carbon nanotubes 7 and rareearth-doped ceramic nanoparticles, [8][9][10][11] are well known to demonstrate OTN-NIR emission; many researchers, including our group, have reported successful in vivo fluorescence imaging using these nanomaterials. However, synthesis of these nanoparticles requires high levels of chemical experimental skill and is time consuming.…”