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Dual-Mode nanoprobes for heart tissue imaging
1Xiamen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Talanta
|June 7, 2022
Summary
Copper doping in Yb/Cu co-doped NaErF4 upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) enhances multicolor luminescence and temperature sensitivity. This breakthrough enables rapid bioimaging and improved biomarker detection at ultralow temperatures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Imaging
Background:
- Upconversion luminescence (UCL) is crucial for various applications, but controlling multicolor output and intensity remains a challenge.
- Existing upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) often lack sufficient temperature sensitivity, especially at ultralow temperatures, limiting their use in biological sensing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for simultaneously altering multicolor UCL and enhancing overall UCL intensity.
- To investigate the effect of transition metal Cu2+ doping on the temperature sensitivity of Yb/Cu co-doped NaErF4 UCNPs at ultralow temperatures.
- To explore the potential of these engineered UCNPs for rapid bioimaging applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of Yb/Cu co-doped NaErF4 upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with varying Cu2+ concentrations.
- Characterization of structural properties and multicolor UCL output (blue, green, red).
- Evaluation of temperature sensitivity at ultralow temperatures and assessment of UCL enhancement via non-radiative energy transfer.
- In vivo bioimaging of heart tissue using the developed UCNPs.
Main Results:
- Cu2+ doping effectively controlled the structure, enabling tunable blue, green, and red UCL output.
- A significant enhancement in UCL intensity across the entire spectrum was observed due to non-radiative energy transfer between Cu2+ and Er3+.
- Remarkable enhancement in temperature sensitivity was achieved at ultralow temperatures, with relative sensitivity increasing from 0.91% K−1 to 1.48% K−1.
- Rapid bioimaging of heart tissue was achieved within 1 hour using the Cu2+-doped UCNPs.
Conclusions:
- Cu2+ doping is an effective strategy to simultaneously tune multicolor UCL, enhance UCL intensity, and significantly improve temperature sensitivity in NaErF4:Yb UCNPs.
- The enhanced temperature sensitivity at ultralow temperatures has profound implications for biomarker dependence on UCNPs, opening new avenues for sensitive biological sensing.
- The rapid response and enhanced UCL properties make these engineered UCNPs highly promising for advanced bioimaging applications.
