Highly biocompatible zwitterionic phospholipids coated upconversion nanoparticles for efficient bioimaging

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) show promise in biomedical applications like imaging and sensing.
• Surface modification of UCNPs is crucial for hydrophilicity and biocompatibility.
• Existing modifications may have limitations in stability and nonspecific interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize novel zwitterionic ligand systems for UCNP surface modification.
• To enhance the hydrophilic and biocompatible properties of UCNPs.
• To evaluate the performance of modified UCNPs in biological environments and in vivo imaging.

Main Methods:

• Development of compact zwitterionic ligand systems using functional phospholipids.
• Surface modification of UCNPs with the synthesized zwitterionic ligands.
• Characterization of UCNP properties including hydrophilicity, stability, and protein interactions.
• Assessment of UCNP performance in live-cell imaging and in vivo tumor imaging models.

Main Results:

• Successfully created hydrophilic and compact zwitterionic UCNPs.
• Demonstrated extended pH and salt stability for the modified UCNPs.
• Observed significantly reduced nonspecific interactions with charged proteins and in live-cell imaging.
• Showcased efficient in vivo tumor imaging with a long blood circulation half-life.

Conclusions:

• Zwitterionic phospholipid modification offers a robust strategy for UCNP surface engineering.
• The modified UCNPs exhibit superior biocompatibility and performance for in vivo biomedical imaging.
• This approach holds significant potential for advancing diagnostic and therapeutic applications of UCNPs.