Hydrophilic, upconverting, multicolor, lanthanide-doped NaGdF4 nanocrystals as potential multifunctional bioprobes

Chemistry. 2012 Sep 10;18(37):11641-6. doi: 10.1002/chem.201201309. Epub 2012 Aug 7.

Abstract

Monodisperse water-soluble hexagonal phase Ln(3+)-doped NaGdF(4) upconverting nanocrystals (UCNCs) have been successfully fabricated by means of a fast, facile, and environmentally friendly microwave-assisted route with polyethylenimine as the surfactant. Fine-tuning of the UC emission from visible to near-IR and finally to white light has been achieved. Furthermore, studies of the magnetic resonance imaging as well as the magnetization (magnetization-magnetic field curves) and the targeted recognition properties of FA-coupled amine-functionalized NaGdF(4)@SiO(2) UCNCs indicate that the obtained NaGdF(4) UCNCs can be potential candidates for dual-mode optical/magnetic bioapplications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • Fluorides / chemistry*
  • Gadolinium / chemistry*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Lanthanoid Series Elements / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Sodium / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Lanthanoid Series Elements
  • Sodium
  • Gadolinium
  • Fluorides