Autofluorescence-Free Targeted Tumor Imaging Based on Luminous Nanoparticles with Composition-Dependent Size and...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Optical bioimaging is crucial in biology and medicine but suffers from autofluorescence interference.
• Persistent nanophosphors offer a solution to autofluorescence but tunable synthesis remains challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for synthesizing persistent nanophosphors with tunable properties for bioimaging.
• To investigate the potential of these nanoparticles in autofluorescence-free and targeted bioimaging.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of zinc gallogermanate (Zn_1+xGa_2-2xGe_xO₄:Cr, ZGGO:Cr) persistent luminescence nanoparticles with varying composition (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5).
• Characterization of nanoparticle size, persistent luminescence intensity, and decay time.
• In vivo bioimaging tests and construction of an aptamer-guided ZGGO:Cr bioprobe.

Main Results:

• ZGGO:Cr nanoparticle size and persistent luminescence properties (intensity, decay time) were tunable by adjusting composition (x).
• In vivo studies confirmed efficient elimination of tissue autofluorescence and potential for long-term bioimaging due to in vivo reactivation.
• An aptamer-guided bioprobe demonstrated excellent tumor-specific accumulation.

Conclusions:

• Composition-tunable ZGGO:Cr nanoparticles are effective for autofluorescence-free bioimaging.
• These nanoparticles show significant potential for targeted bioimaging, cellular network monitoring, and surgical guidance systems.