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PEG/Folic Acid Coloaded Er:Y2O3 Upconversion Nanoparticles: Enhanced Internalization and Potential for High-Contrast

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Functionalized erbium-doped yttrium oxide nanoparticles (Er:Y2O3 NPs) show low toxicity and enhanced tumor cell targeting. Folic acid (FA) improves nanoparticle uptake, suggesting potential for high-contrast bioimaging.

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Area of Science:

  • Nanotechnology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Developing targeted nanoparticles for cancer therapy and imaging is crucial.
  • Erbium-doped yttrium oxide nanoparticles (Er:Y2O3 NPs) offer unique optical properties for bioimaging.
  • Improving nanoparticle water dispersibility and targeting efficiency remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize Er:Y2O3 NPs coloaded with PEG and folic acid (FA) for enhanced tumor cell targeting and water dispersibility.
  • To evaluate the cytotoxicity and cellular internalization of these functionalized nanoparticles in colorectal cancer cells.
  • To explore their potential for high-contrast bioimaging applications.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of Er:Y2O3 NPs with controlled size distribution.
  • Functionalization with PEG and FA for improved targeting and dispersibility.
  • Characterization using TEM, FTIR, PL, and upconversion spectroscopy.
  • Cytotoxicity assessment via MTT assays in HCT-116 cells.
  • Cellular internalization studies using confocal microscopy and ICP-OES.
  • Evaluation of bioimaging potential using NIR excitation.

Main Results:

  • Er:Y2O3 NPs were successfully synthesized and functionalized with PEG and FA without compromising fluorescence.
  • MTT assays demonstrated low cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles at concentrations up to 1 μg/mL.
  • Confocal microscopy and ICP-OES confirmed enhanced cellular internalization of PEG-FA NPs compared to PEG NPs.
  • NIR excitation effectively suppressed cellular autofluorescence, enabling clearer imaging.

Conclusions:

  • PEG-FA functionalized Er:Y2O3 NPs exhibit low cytotoxicity and enhanced tumor cell targeting in colorectal cancer models.
  • Folic acid significantly improves nanoparticle internalization, validating its role in targeted delivery.
  • These nanoparticles show promise for high-contrast bioimaging applications due to suppressed autofluorescence under NIR excitation.