Iridium(III) complex-coated nanosystem for ratiometric upconversion luminescence bioimaging of cyanide anions

Chromophoric iridium(III) complex-coated NaYF(4): 20%Yb, 1.6%Er, 0.4%Tm nanocrystals are demonstrated as a ratiometric upconversion luminescence (UCL) probe for highly selective detection of cyanide anion and bioimaging of CN(-) in living cells through inhibition of the energy transfer from the UCL of the nanocrystals to the absorbance of the chromophoric complex. The UCL probe provides a very low detection limit of 0.18 μM CN(-) in the aqueous solution.