Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
11:28
Biofunctionalized Prussian Blue Nanoparticles for Multimodal Molecular Imaging Applications
Published on: April 28, 2015
Functionalized europium nanorods for in vitro imaging
Ka-Leung Wong1, Ga-Lai Law, Margaret B Murphy
1Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
Inorganic Chemistry
|May 22, 2008
Summary
Synthesized europium hydroxide nanorods (ENR) functionalized with ORMOSIL show strong red luminescence. These functionalized nanorods (FENR) can image live cells without toxicity, enabling cytoplasm staining.
Area of Science:
- Nanomaterials Science
- Biomedical Imaging
- Photophysics
Background:
- Europium hydroxide nanorods (ENR) offer unique luminescent properties.
- Surface functionalization is key to enhancing nanomaterial applications.
- Organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL) coatings can impart new functionalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize emissive europium hydroxide nanorods (ENR) functionalized with a chromophore-containing ORMOSIL layer.
- To evaluate the photophysical properties of the functionalized nanorods (FENR).
- To explore the potential of these FENR for live cell imaging applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of europium hydroxide nanorods (ENR).
- Surface functionalization with chromophore-containing ORMOSIL.
- High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for characterization.
- Low-temperature photophysical characterization.
- Live cell imaging studies using human lung carcinoma cells (A549).
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized and characterized emissive europium hydroxide nanorods (ENR) with an ORMOSIL coating.
- FENR exhibited strong red 5D0 luminescence in solid and solution states.
- Both bare and FENR demonstrated cellular uptake in living human cells with no cytotoxicity.
- Chromophore-to-Eu3+ energy transfer facilitated cytoplasm staining via FENR.
- Confocal microscopy confirmed red chromophore-sensitized luminescence from internalized FENR in A549 cells within 2 hours, peaking at 24 hours.
Conclusions:
- Functionalized europium hydroxide nanorods (FENR) are promising for live cell imaging due to their luminescence and biocompatibility.
- The ORMOSIL coating enables chromophore-sensitized luminescence, allowing for effective cytoplasm staining.
- FENR show potential for tracking cellular processes and diagnostics in living systems.
