Upconversion core/shell nanoparticles with lowered surface quenching for fluorescence detection of Hg2+ ions.

In this study, we reported a fluorescent nanoprobe assembled with upconversion core/shell nanoparticles and a chromophore ruthenium complex (N719@UCNPs). Functional groups (NCS) of the ruthenium complex N719 could react with Hg2+, which made N719 lose the efficacy in quenching the fluorescence of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and resulted in the recovery of the fluorescence intensity of UCNPs eventually. This fluorescent nanoprobe could provide a rapid and efficient detection of Hg2+ ions in vivo based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between UCNPs and N719, and a detection limit of 0.1 µg mL-1 can be achieved based on this nanoprobe. It's worth mentioning that, compared with bare core upconversion nanoparticles, the core/shell UCNPs could greatly reduce the surface quenching of the fluorescence induced by solvents instead of N719, thus leading to the enhancement of signal-to-noise ratios. Moreover, the excitation of core/shell UCNPs requires a much lower power (0.06 W cm-2) than that of bare cores, which is beneficial for reducing the decomposition of N719 to stabilize the FRET processes.

Core/shell upconversion nanoparticles with intense fluorescence for detecting doxorubicin in vivo.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a chemotherapy medication used to treat cancer. Herein, we report a rapid and efficient method for detecting Dox in vivo based on a NaGdF4:Yb3+,Er3+@NaYF4 core/shell upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) probe. We found that the intensity ratio of green to red emission (IGVRE) bands of the core/shell NaGdF4:Yb3+,Er3+@NaYF4 nanoparticles was sensitive to Dox in blood samples, and drops as the concentration of Dox increases. In addition, the proposed UCNPs probe possessed the advantage that no nanoparticles leaked into the living body, thus overcoming the intrinsic defect (difficulty in removing UCNPs from blood vessels) of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) approach. This proposed UCNP probe design and results may provide some guidance for the real-time and efficient detection of Dox, and can be helpful in biomedical applications.

Correction: Core/shell upconversion nanoparticles with intense fluorescence for detecting doxorubicin in vivo.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C8RA02928H.].

Magnetic tuning of upconversion luminescence in Au/NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanocomposite.

Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+ have received increasing attention due to their unique optical-magnetic bifunctional properties. Here, we show that the luminescent intensity from NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles decreases monotonously with increasing the applied magnetic field from 0 to 37.1 T, while plasmon-enhanced upconversion luminescence in Au/NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanocomposite is independent of a magnetic field lower than 6 T. The surface plasmon resonances could compensate for the energetic mismatching between the excitation light and the energy-level gaps induced by magnetic field and enhance the radiative efficiency, which is the main factor for achieving this stable upconversion emission in this nanocomposite under a magnetic field not higher than 6 T. These findings provide a novel route for exploring the magnetic control of upconversion luminescence in lanthanide-doped bifunctional nanoparticles.

Upconversion fluorescent and X-ray-sensitive bifunctional nanoprobes for assessing the penetrability of inorganic nanoparticles in the digestive system.

Nanotechnology is receiving increasing attention due to its fantastic advantages and potential applications in nanofood and nanomedicine. However, the safety of touching manufactured nanoparticles is still uncertain for human beings. Here, we track inorganic nanoparticles in the digestive system of the mouse through upconversion fluorescence and X-ray imaging, and try to demonstrate whether or not the inorganic nanoparticles will penetrate the digestive system to enter the blood system. Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles, which can convert infrared light to visible light and are simultaneously sensitive to X-rays, were selected as model inorganic nanoparticles. The investigation clarifies that even the ultrathin nanoparticles (∼5 nm) could not penetrate the digestive tract to enter the bloodstream or surrounding tissues, but were gradually excreted out. Our results help assess the safety of inorganic nanoparticles potentially used in nanofood and nanomedicine.

Enhanced upconversion luminescence through core/shell structures and its application for detecting organic dyes in opaque fishes.

Here, we report the enhanced upconversion luminescence of NaLuF4:18%Yb(3+),2%Er(3+) through core/shell structures. Among NaYF4, NaGdF4, and NaLuF4 shells, the first one presents the highest efficiency. These upconversion fluorescent nanoprobes with an oleic acid/PEG hybrid ligand can efficiently capture Rhodamine B (RB) and sodium fluorescein (SF) in opaque fishes to present their residues in vivo through luminescence resonant energy transfer (LRET) processes. It can be confirmed based on LRET technology that no RB is absorbed by opaque fishes after incubating in the aqueous solution of 1 µg ml(-1) RB for one day, while SF residue can be obviously detected after incubating in the aqueous solution of 1 µg ml(-1) SF for one day. The merit of this LRET technology with the upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) donor is ascribed to the deep penetration depth of the infrared pumping laser and high signal to noise ratio.