Rare‐Earth‐Based Nanoparticles with Simultaneously Enhanced Near‐Infrared (NIR)‐Visible (Vis) and NIR‐NIR Dual‐Conversion Luminescence for Multimodal Imaging |
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Authors: | Dandan Ma Xiang Xu Min Hu Jing Wang Zhenxi Zhang Jian Yang Lingjie Meng |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, ShaanXi Province, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China;2. Institute of Biomedical Analytical Technology and Instrumentation, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, ShaanXi Province, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China;3. The Biomedical-Information Engineering Laboratory of State Ministry of Education, Xi'an Jiaotong University, ShaanXi Province, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China;4. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, ShaanXi Province, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China |
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Abstract: | Multifunctional NaGdF4:Yb3+,Er3+,Nd3+@NaGdF4:Nd3+ core–shell nanoparticles (called Gd:Yb3+,Er3+,Nd3+@Gd:Nd3+ NPs) with simultaneously enhanced near‐infrared (NIR)‐visible (Vis) and NIR‐NIR dual‐conversion (up and down) luminescence (UCL/DCL) properties were successfully synthesized. The resulting core–shell NPs simultaneously emitted enhanced UCL at 522, 540, and 660 nm and DCL at 980 and 1060 nm under the excitation of a 793 nm laser. The enhanced UCL and DCL can be explained by complex energy‐transfer processes, Nd3+→Yb3+→Er3+ and Nd3+→Yb3+, respectively. The effects of Nd3+ concentration and shell thickness on the UCL/DCL properties were systematically investigated. The UCL and DCL properties of NPs were observed under the optimal conditions: a shell Nd3+ content of 20 % and a shell thickness of approximately 5 nm. Moreover, the Gd:Yb3+,Er3+,Nd3+@Gd:20 % Nd3+ NPs exhibited remarkable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) properties similar to that of a clinical agent, Omniscan. Thus, the core–shell NPs with excellent UCL/DCL/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) properties have great potential for both in vitro and in vivo multimodal bioimaging. |
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Keywords: | core– shell structures imaging agents luminescence nanostructures upconversion |
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