NaYF4 :Yb/Er@Mn3 O4 @GOX Nanocomposite for Upconversion Fluorescence Imaging and Synergistic Cascade Cancer Therapy by Apoptosis and Ferroptosis.

The cell elimination strategy based on reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a promising method for tumor therapy. However, its efficacy is significantly limited by ROS deficiency caused by H2 O2 substrate deficiency and up-regulation of cellular antioxidant defense induced by high glutathione (GSH) content in tumor cells. To overcome these obstacles, a multifunctional self-cascaded nanocomposite: glucose oxidase (GOX) loaded NaYF4 :Yb/Er@Mn3 O4 (UC@Mn3 O4 , labeled as UCMn) is constructed. Only in tumor microenvironment, it can be specifically activated through a series of cascades to boost ROS production via a strategy of open source (H2 O2 self-supplying ability). The increased ROS can enhance lipid peroxidation and induce tumor cell apoptosis by activating the protein caspase. More importantly, the nanozyme can consume GSH to inhibit glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity, which limits tumor cell resistance to oxidative damage and triggers the tumor cell ferroptosis. Therefore, this strategy is expected to overcome the resistance of tumor to oxidative damage and achieve efficient oxidative damage of tumor. Further, degradation of the Mn3 O4 layer induced by GSH and acidic environment can promote the fluorescence recovery of UC fluorescent nuclear for tumor imaging to complete efficient integration of diagnosis and treatment for tumor.

A Novel Sulfonamide, Molecularly Imprinted, Upconversion Fluorescence Probe Prepared by Pickering Emulsion Polymerization and Its Adsorption and Optical Sensing Performance.

A novel, molecularly imprinted, upconversion fluorescence probe (UCNP@MIFP) for sulfonamide sensing was fabricated by Pickering emulsion polymerization using UCNP@SiO2 particles as the stabilizer and sulfamethazine/sulfamerazine as the co-templates. The synthesis conditions of the UCNP@MIFP were optimized, and the synthesized probe was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, thermogravimetric analyzer, and fluorescence spectrometer. The UCNP@MIFPs showed a good adsorption capacity and a fast kinetic feature for the template. The selectivity experiment revealed that the UCNP@MIFP has a broad-spectrum molecular recognition capability. Good linear relationships were obtained over the concentration range of 1-10 ng/mL for sulfamerazine, sulfamethazine, sulfathiazole, and sulfafurazole, with low limits of detection in the range of 1.37-2.35 ng/mL. The prepared UCNP@MIFP has the potential to detect four sulfonamide residues in food and environmental water.

Upconversion fluorescent aptasensor for bisphenol A and 17ß-estradiol based on a nanohybrid composed of black phosphorus and gold, and making use of signal amplification via DNA tetrahedrons.

This study describes an upconversion fluorescent aptasensor based on black phosphorus nanohybrids and self-assembled DNA tetrahedrons dual-amplification strategy for rapid detection of the environmental estrogens bisphenol A (BPA) and 17ß-estradiol (E2). Tetrahedron complementary DNAs (T-cDNAs) were self-assembled in an oriented fashion on a 2D nanohybrid composed of black phosphorus (BP) and gold to give a materials of architecture BP-Au@T-cDNAs. In parallel, core-shell upconversion nanoparticles were modified with aptamers (UCNPs@apts) and used as capture probes. On complementary pairing, the BP-Au@T-cDNA quench the fluorescence of UCNPs@apts (measured at an excitation wavelength 808 nm and at main emission peaks at 545 nm and 805 nm.) Compared with single-stranded probes based on black phosphorus and gold, the dual-amplification strategy increases quenching efficiency by nearly 25%-30% and reduces capture time to 10 min. This is due to the higher optical absorption of 2D nanohybrid and the reduction of steric hindrance by T-cDNAs. Exposure to BPA or E2 cause the release of UCNPs@apts from the BP-Au@T-cDNAs due to stronger binding between aptamer and analyte. Hence, fluorescence recovers at 545 nm for BPA and 805 nm for E2. Based on these findings, a dually amplified aptamer assay was constructed that covers the 0.01 to 100 ng mL-1 BPA concentration range, and the 0.1 to 100 ng mL-1 E2 concentration range. The detection limits are 7.8 pg mL-1 and 92 pg mL-1, respectively. This method was applied to the simultaneous determination of BPA and E2 in spiked samples of water, food, serum and urine. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of novel quenching probes designed by tetrahedron complementary DNAs oriented self-assembled on the surface of black phosphorus/gold nanohybrids. Combined with aptamer-modified upconversion nanoparticles, a dual-amplification self-assembled fluorescence nanoprobe was constructed for simultaneous detection of BPA and E2.

Fluorometric determination of antioxidant capacity in human plasma by using upconversion nanoparticles and an inner filter effect mechanism.

The balance between free oxygen radicals and antioxidant defense systems is usually assessed by an antioxidant capacity assay. A rapid and sensitive antioxidant capacity assay is described here. It is making use of NaYF4:Yb/Er@NaYF4 core-shell upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and potassium permanganate (KMnO4). In this strategy, added KMnO4 reduces the green (540 nm) emission of the UCNPs (under 980 nm photoexcitation) due to an inner filter effect. The antioxidants cysteine, ascorbic acid and glutathione (GSH) reduce the intense purple color of KMnO4 because it is reduced to Mn(II) ion. Hence, the green upconversion fluorescence is restored after the addition of antioxidants. Figures of merit for this assay (for the case of GSH) include a detection limit of 3.3 µM, a detection range that extends from 10 µM to 2.5 mM, and an assay time of a few seconds. The assay was applied to the evaluation of antioxidant capacity in human plasma samples spiked with GSH and gave satisfactory repeatability and specificity. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a fluorometric assay based on inner filter effect (IFE) between upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and potassium permanganate (KMnO4) for the determination of antioxidant capacity in human plasma.

An aptamer based aggregation assay for the neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid using fluorescent upconversion nanoparticles and DNA functionalized gold nanoparticles.

An acetamiprid-binding aptamer (ABA), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are used in a colorimetric and fluorometric method for the ultrasensitive and selective detection of the pesticide acetamiprid. The ABA is first configured into a duplex with a complementary DNA covalently attached to AuNPs. The resulting dsDNA-functionalized AuNP probe is not stable in 0.15 M NaCl solution and aggregates. This causing the color to change from red to purple. In the presence of acetamiprid, the ABA undergoes a structural switch from a DNA duplex to an aptamer-acetamiprid complex and consequently dissociates from the AuNPs. The partially unhybridized AuNPs are stable against salt-induced aggregation and show red color. The ratio of absorbances at 524 nm (red) and 650 nm (purple blue) varies with the concentration of acetamiprid in the 0.025-10 µM concentration range. The colorimetric signal can be further amplified by introducing DNA-modified carboxylated UCNPs (silica-coated NaYF4:Yb,Er) which display red and green fluorescence under 980 nm excitation. An inner filter effect occurs between DNA-modified UCNPs and dsDNA-modified AuNPs. The fluorometric assay is based on the measurement of the ratio of red (654 nm) and green (540 nm) fluorescence and works in the 0.025 to 1 µM acetamiprid concentration range and has a 0.36 nM detection limit (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3). Because of the specificity of the aptamer, the assay is high selective. It was successfully used to quantify acetamiprid in contaminated real samples. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of an upconversion fluorescent assay for acetamiprid. It involves the principle of analyte-triggered structural switch of aptamers, salt-induced AuNP aggregation, and signal amplification from UCNP.

Turn-on fluorometric immunosensor for diethylstilbestrol based on the use of air-stable polydopamine-functionalized black phosphorus and upconversion nanoparticles.

The preparation of air-stable black phosphorus (BP) is challenging because atomic layers of BP degrade rapidly on exposure to oxygen. A strategy is presented for the synthesis of BP functionalized with polydopamine (PDA/BP). Dopamine was self-polymerized to yield polydopamine (PDA) which then was used to coat the surface of BP. PDA can be easily reduced and this prevents BP degradation. PDA/BP also is a viable matrix for the adsorption of proteins due to the presence of functional groups. Without any chemical activation, diethylstilbestrol (DES)-specific monoclonal antibody was adsorbed on the PDA/BP surface. PDA/BP quenches the fluorescence antigen-modified NaYF4:Yb,Ho,Nd upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs; photoexcited at 808 nm) via specific immuno recognition. Exposure to DES causes the dissociation of UCNP from the PDA/BP surface and fluorescence at 475, 525, 545 and 660 nm to recover. This is due to the DES competition with antigen for binding to the antibody. Based on this competitive immuno mechanism, a turn-on fluorometric immunoassay was constructed. It has a response that covers the 0.1 to 1000 ng mL-1 DES concentration range with a detection limit of 83 pg mL-1. This method was successfully applied to the determination of DES in spiked food and human urine samples. Graphical abstract Air-stable polydopamine-functionalized black phosphorus was obtained by modification of black phosphorus with polydopamine and then was coupled with specific monoclonal antibody. Combined with antigen-modified upconversion nanoparticles, a turn-on fluorometric immunoassay was constructed to detect diethylstilbestrol.

Sulfadiazine detection in aquatic products using upconversion nanosensor based on photo-induced electron transfer with imidazole ligands and copper ions.

Contamination of aquatic products with sulfonamide antibiotics poses a threat to consumer health and can lead to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. Common methods to detect such compounds are slow and require expensive instruments. We developed a sensitive sulfadiazine (SDZ) detection method based on the photoinduced electron transfer between UCNPs and Cu2+. The surface-modified upconversion nanoparticles bind to Cu2+ by electrostatic adsorption, causing fluorescence quenching. The quenched fluorescence was subsequently recovered by the addition of imidazole and SDZ to the detection system, which formed a complex with Cu2+. The sensor showed excellent linearity over a wide concentration range (0.05-1000 ng/mL), had a low limit of detection (0.04 ng/mL), was selective, and was not affected by common substances present in aquatic media. This indicates that the sensor has great potential for application in the detection of SDZ residues in aquatic products.

Upconversion fluorescence nanosensor based on enzymatic inhibited and copper-triggered o-phenylenediamine oxidation for the detection of dimethoate pesticides.

Pesticide residues in agricultural products pose a significant threat to human health. Herein, a sensitive fluorescence method employing upconversion nanoparticles was developed for detecting organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) based on the principle of enzyme inhibition and copper-triggered o-phenylenediamine (OPD) oxidation. Copper ions (Cu2+) oxidized the colorless OPD to a yellow 2,3-diaminophenazine (oxOPD). The yellow solution oxOPD quenched the fluorescence of upconversion nanoparticles due to the fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The high affinity of Cu2+ for thiocholine reduced the level of oxOPD, resulting in almost no fluorescence quenching. The addition of dimethoate led to the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity and thus prevented the formation of thiocholine. Subsequently, Cu2+ oxidized OPD to form oxOPD, which attenuated the fluorescence signal of the system. The detection system has a good linear range of 0.01 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.008 ng/mL, providing promising applications for rapid detection of dimethoate.

Sensitive and specific detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food samples using imprinted upconversion fluorescence probe prepared by emulsion polymerization method.

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a foodborne pathogen with high morbidity and mortality rates, necessitating rapid detection methods. Current techniques, while reliable, are labor-intensive and not amenable to on-site testing. We report the design and synthesis of a novel imprinted upconversion fluorescence probe through Pickering emulsion polymerization for the specific detection of L. monocytogenes. The probe employs trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate and divinylbenzene as cross-linkers, acryloyl-modified chitosan as a functional monomer, and the bacterium itself as the template. The developed probe demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity in detecting L. monocytogenes, with a limit of detection of 72 CFU/mL. It effectively identified the pathogen in contaminated salmon and chicken samples, with minimal background interference. The integration of molecular imprinting and upconversion fluorescence materials presents a potent and reliable approach for the rapid and specific detection of L. monocytogenes, offering considerable potential for on-site food safety testing.

A dual-mode fluorescence and colorimetric sensing platform for efficient detection of ofloxacin in aquatic products using iron alkoxide nanozyme.

Trace detection of ofloxacin (OFL) with high sensitivity, reliability, and visual clarity is challenging. To address this, a novel dual-modal aptasensor with fluorescence-colorimetric capabilities was designed that exploit the target-induced release of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) molecules from aptamer-gated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), the oxidase-like activity of iron alkoxide (IA) nanozyme, and the fluorescence attributes of core-shell upconversion nanoparticles. Therefore, the study reports a dual mode detection, with a fluorescence detection range for OFL spanning from 0.1 µg/kg to 1000 µg/kg (and a detection limit of 0.048 µg/kg). Additionally, the colorimetric method offered a linear detection range of 0.3 µg/kg to 1000 µg/kg, with a detection limit of 0.165 µg/kg. The proposed biosensor had been successfully applied to the determination of OFL content in real samples with satisfactory recoveries (78.24-96.14 %).

A dual-optical sensor for mancozeb by UCNP@PVP@MnO2 nanozyme.

In this work, a fluorescence/colorimetric dual-mode detection method based on MnO2 nanoflower-decorated upconversion nanoparticles: NaYF4:Yb/Er@polyvinylpyrrolidone@MnO2 (UCNP@PVP@MnO2) was proposed to detect the presence of mancozeb (MB). In this detection system, the MnO2 nanoflowers in the nanocomplex of UCNP@PVP@MnO2 would quench the fluorescence of the UCNP. With the addition of H2O2 and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), the reaction between MnO2 and H2O2 resulted in the dissolution of MnO2 and the dissolution of the MnO2 layer contributed to the fluorescence recovery of UCNP. Simultaneously, MnO2 oxidized the colorless TMB to a blue product oxidized 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (oxTMB). The blue solution was able to quench the recovered fluorescence of UCNP due to the fluorescence inter filter effect (IFE) between the UCNP and blue oxTMB. Finally, with the addition of MB, the oxTMB was reduced to TMB by MB and the color of the solution became lighter while the fluorescence intensity of the solution increased. The detection method had a good linear range of 5-120 µM and 0.5-60 µM for fluorescence and colorimetric detection, respectively, and the limits of detection (LOD) were 2.34 and 0.245 µM, respectively.

Opal photonic crystal-enhanced upconversion turn-off fluorescent immunoassay for salivary CEA with oral cancer.

The point-of-care test of tumor markers in saliva with high specificity and sensitivity for early diagnosis of oral cancer is of great interest and significance, but remaining a daunting challenge due to the low concentration of such biomarkers in oral fluid. Herein, a turn-off biosensor based on opal photonic crystal (OPC) enhanced upconversion fluorescence is proposed to detect the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in saliva by applying fluorescence resonance energy transfer sensing strategy. Hydrophilic PEI ligands are modified on upconversion nanoparticles to enhance the sensitivity of biosensor by promoting sufficient contact between saliva and detection region. As a substrate for the biosensor, OPC can also provide a local-field effect for greatly enhanced upconversion fluorescence by coupling the stop band and excitation light, and a 66-fold amplification of the upconversion fluorescence signal was obtained. For the CEA detection in spiked saliva, such sensors showed a favorable linear relationship at 0.1-2.5 ng mL-1 and more than 2.5 ng mL-1, respectively. The limit of detection was down to 0.1 ng mL-1. Moreover, by monitoring real saliva, the effective discrepancy between patients and healthy people was confirmed, indicating remarkable practical application value in clinical early diagnosis and home-based self-monitoring of tumors.

An upconversion biosensor based on inner filter effect for dual-role recognition of sulfadimethoxine in aquatic samples.

Sulfadimethoxine (SDM) as an extensively employed veterinary drug causes potential threats to human health. Herein, a dual recognition mode novel upconversion fluorescence biosensor was designed based on inner filter effect (IFE) to sensitively and rapidly detect SDM in aquatic samples. Aldehyde-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were applied to recognize and capture SDM, followed by specifically bond with biotin-labeled aptamers. The upconversion nanoparticles and the colored products resulting from the enzyme-catalyzed oxidation of 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine exhibited an IFE quenching process. Under the optimal condition, the results displayed the fluorescence intensity was correlated with the concentration of SDM within the range of 0.5-1000 ng⋅mL-1 achieving a low limit of detection of 0.13 ng⋅mL-1. The SDM detection system was further employed in the spiked aquatic samples with good recoveries (88.41-96.78 %). Consequently, the constructed fluorescence biosensor provided broad prospects for accuracy and rapid detection of SDM.

Light-driven upconversion fluorescence micromotors.

Light-driven micromotors with high spatial resolution are powerful tools for targeted drug delivery and biomedical diagnosis. To combine the function of biosensing, light-driven micromotors have been modified with fluorescence materials such as quantum dots or dyes. However, these fluorescence micromotors are generally driven and excited by ultraviolet or visible lights, which may cause photo-damage to biological cells or tissues. Here we propose upconversion fluorescence micromotors (UCFMs) constructed by lanthanide (NaYF4: Yb3+, Er3+) doped microrods that were driven and excited by near-infrared lights. The UCFMs were moved to the surfaces of the targeted cancer cells using scanning optical tweezers (SOTs). The upconversion fluorescence spectra were measured to determine the temperatures of the cells, with an absolute sensitivity from 1.71 × 10-3 to 1.74 × 10-3 K-1 and a relative sensitivity from 0.53% to 0.68% K-1. The UCFMs were then optically driven to actuate the local flow to deliver the polystyrene (PS) microparticles and doxorubicin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles to the vicinity of the cancer cells. By integrating the actuator and sensor into a single device, the UCFMs hold great potential for applications to precise biosensing, single-cell biomedical analysis, and targeted drug delivery.

Volumetric Temperature Mapping Using Light-Sheet Microscopy and Upconversion Fluorescence from Micro- and Nano-Rare Earth Composites.

We present a combination of light-sheet excitation and two-dimensional fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) measurements as a simple and promising technique for three-dimensional temperature mapping. The feasibility of this approach is demonstrated with samples fabricated with sodium yttrium fluoride nanoparticles co-doped with rare-earth ytterbium and erbium ions (NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+) incorporated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a host material. In addition, we also evaluate the technique using lipid-coated NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles immersed in agar. The composite materials show upconverted (UC) fluorescence bands when excited by a 980 nm near-infrared laser light-sheet. Using a single CMOS camera and a pair of interferometric optical filters to specifically image the two thermally-coupled bands (at 525 and 550 nm), the two-dimensional FIR and, hence, the temperature map can be readily obtained. The proposed method can take optically sectioned (confocal-like) images with good optical resolution over relatively large samples (up to the millimetric scale) for further 3D temperature reconstruction.

Analyte-triggered cascade signal amplification strategy for highly sensitive detection of iodate in table salt with dual-readout signals.

A novel and highly sensitive upconversion fluorescence and colorimetric dual readout iodate (IO3-) nanosensor system was constructed by using both the outstanding optical performance of NaYF4:Yb, Tm upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and the analyte-triggered cascade signal amplification (CSA) technique. The construction of the sensing system consisted of three processes. First, IO3- oxidized o-phenylenediamine (OPD) to diaminophenazine (OPDox), while IO3- was reduced to I2. Second, the generated I2 can further oxidize OPD to OPDox. This mechanism has been verified by 1H NMR spectra titration analysis and HRMS measurement, which effectively improves the selectivity and sensitivity of the measurement of IO3-. Third, the generated OPDox can effectively quench the fluorescence of UCNPs via the inner filter effect (IFE), realize analyte-triggered CSA, and allow quantitative determination of IO3-. Under the optimized conditions, the fluorescence quenching efficiency showed a good linear relationship to IO3- concentration in the range of 0.06-100 µM, and the detection limit reached 0.026 µM (3RSD/slope). Moreover, this method was applied to detect IO3- in table salt samples, yielding satisfactory determination results with excellent recoveries (95.5-105%) and high precision (RSD <5.5%). These results suggest that the dual-readout sensing strategy with well-defined response mechanisms has promising application prospects in physiological and pathological studies.

An upconversion nanosensor for rapid and sensitive detection of tetracycline in food based on magnetic-field-assisted separation.

Tetracycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, has been widely used in disease treatment and other fields. However, due to the unreasonable use, its residue remains in food which eventually harms human health. Here described an upconversion nanosensor for tetracycline detection based on magnetic separation and electrostatic adsorption. To identify tetracycline, tetracycline aptamer, and europium ions (Eu3+) were introduced in the system. According to the electrostatic adsorption principle, Eu3+ exposed core-shell UCNPs were bound to negative complex of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and aptamer. In the presence of tetracycline, UCNPs separated with MNPs-aptamer and remained in the supernatant by an external magnetic field. Under optimal conditions, the linear detection range of tetracycline was 0.5-1000 ng·mL-1, and the detection limit was 0.17 ng·mL-1. It has been successfully applied to detect tetracycline in food samples. The constructed method provided broad prospects for tetracycline detection with the merits of simple operation, high sensitivity, excellent repeatability, and selectivity.

Tailoring of upconversion luminescence of Al3+engineered titanate phosphor for non-invasive thermometry.

The ability of rare-earth-doped ferroelectric oxides to achieve outstanding upconversion (UC) performances under NIR irradiation despite possessing intrinsic electric properties drives researchers all over the globe to work in this field. The structural and spectroscopic characteristics of the Bi4Ti3O12phosphor integrated with Er3+, Yb3+, and Al3+have been thoroughly investigated in this study. The considerable increase in UC emission ∼three times caused by the addition of Al3+ions has been observed and discussed. The processes connected with the UC emission related to the pump power variation have been realized using the rate law equation. Aside from having high sensitivity of 0.011 K-1at room temperature, the prepared phosphor possesses excellent thermal stability, i.e., it retains ∼73% of its initial intensity with the addition of Al3+ions.

A solid-phase capture probe based on upconvertion nanoparticles and inner filter effect for the determination of ampicillin in food.

Ampicillin (AMP) is commonly used to treat diseases caused by bacterial infections as a veterinary drug. However, the abuse of AMP can lead to residues in food and ultimately cause harm to humans. Thus, it is significant to construct a reliable system for AMP detection. Here, we developed an inner filter effect system based on a solid-phase capture probe and the catalysis of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) for AMP determination in food. In the presence of AMP, PDMS captured AMP then combined with aptamer-functionalized PtNPs, which catalyzed the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine, resulting in upconversion fluorescence quenching. The results showed the fluorescence intensity of upconversion nanoparticles was related to AMP concentration (0.5-100 ng·mL-1) with an LOD of 0.32 ng·mL-1, which made quantification of AMP possible. The method also achieved a satisfactory recovery rate (96.89-112.92%) and can be used for AMP detection in food samples with selectivity and sensitivity.

Application of a double-colour upconversion nanofluorescent probe for targeted imaging of mantle cell lymphoma.

Upconversion nanoparticles are a new type of fluorescent marker in biomedical imaging that can convert a longer wavelength (such as near-infrared fluorescence) into a shorter wavelength (such as visible light). Mantle cell lymphoma, which is derived from B-cell lymphoma, is a subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and the immune phenotype is a mature B-cell phenotype (CD20+, CD5+). To develop the use of nanomaterials as specific markers for the medical imaging of mantle cell lymphoma, we modified the surface of UCNPs by oxidation so that the CD20 or CD5 antibody could covalently attach to the upconversion nanoparticles to form antibody-UCNP conjugates. These antibody-UCNP conjugates were used as fluorescent probes to detect the CD20 or CD5 antigen. Due to the excessive expression of these antigens on the surface of MCL cells and successful strong connection between the antibody and UCNPs, the latter could specifically combine with mantle cell lymphoma cells. Upon near-infrared excitation at 980 nm, cells labelled with UCNPs emitted bright upconversion fluorescence.