Rare-Earth-Based Nanoparticles with Simultaneously Enhanced Near-Infrared (NIR)-Visible (Vis) and NIR-NIR Dual-Conversion Luminescence for Multimodal Imaging.

Multifunctional NaGdF4 :Yb(3+),Er(3+),Nd(3+) @NaGdF4 :Nd(3+) core-shell nanoparticles (called Gd:Yb(3+),Er(3+),Nd(3+) @Gd:Nd(3+) NPs) with simultaneously enhanced near-infrared (NIR)-visible (Vis) and NIR-NIR dual-conversion (up and down) luminescence (UCL/DCL) properties were successfully synthesized. The resulting core-shell NPs simultaneously emitted enhanced UCL at 522, 540, and 660 nm and DCL at 980 and 1060 nm under the excitation of a 793 nm laser. The enhanced UCL and DCL can be explained by complex energy-transfer processes, Nd(3+) →Yb(3+) →Er(3+) and Nd(3+) →Yb(3+) , respectively. The effects of Nd(3+) concentration and shell thickness on the UCL/DCL properties were systematically investigated. The UCL and DCL properties of NPs were observed under the optimal conditions: a shell Nd(3+) content of 20 % and a shell thickness of approximately 5 nm. Moreover, the Gd:Yb(3+) ,Er(3+) ,Nd(3+) @Gd:20 % Nd(3+) NPs exhibited remarkable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) properties similar to that of a clinical agent, Omniscan. Thus, the core-shell NPs with excellent UCL/DCL/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) properties have great potential for both in vitro and in vivo multimodal bioimaging.

Ma D ，Xu X ，Hu M ，Wang J ，Zhang Z ，Yang J ，Meng L ... -  《-》

Dual-modality in vivo imaging using rare-earth nanocrystals with near-infrared to near-infrared (NIR-to-NIR) upconversion luminescence and magnetic resonance properties.

Upconversion luminescence (UCL) imaging is expected to play a significant role in future photoluminescence imaging since it shows advantages of sharp emission lines, long lifetimes, superior photostability and no blinking. To further improve penetration depth, herein, near-infrared to near-infrared (NIR-to-NIR) UCL and magnetic properties were combined into a nanoparticle, and NIR-to-NIR UCL and MRI dual-modal bioimaging in vivo of whole-body animal were developed. Hydrophilic and carboxylic acid-functionalized Tm(3+)/Er(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped NaGdF(4) upconversion nanophosphors (AA-NPs) were synthesized and showed both NIR-to-visible and NIR-to-NIR luminescence under excitation of 980 nm. Collecting the signal of the upconversion emission from AA-NPs in the visible and NIR range, all UCL imaging of cells, tissues and whole-body animals with different penetration depth showed high contrast. Moreover, AA-NPs showed a high relaxivity of 5.60 s(-1) (mM)(-1) and were successfully applied as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in vivo. By means of the combination of UCL imaging and MRI, the distribution of AA-NPs in living animals was studied, and the results indicated that these particles mainly accumulate in the liver and spleen without undesirable stay in the lungs. Therefore, the concept of UCL and MR dual-modality imaging in vivo of whole-body animals using Tm(3+)/Er(3+)/Yb(3+) co-doped NaGdF(4) with NIR-to-NIR upconversion luminescent and magnetic resonance properties can serve as a platform technology for the next-generation of probes for bioimaging in vivo.

Zhou J ，Sun Y ，Du X ，Xiong L ，Hu H ，Li F ... -  《-》

Enhanced up/down-conversion luminescence and heat: Simultaneously achieving in one single core-shell structure for multimodal imaging guided therapy.

Upon near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, the Nd(3+) doping derived down-conversion luminescence (DCL) in NIR region and thermal effect are extremely fascinating in bio-imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT) fields. However, the concentration quenching induced opposite changing trend of the two properties makes it difficult to get desired DCL and thermal effect together in one single particle. In this study, we firstly designed a unique NaGdF4:0.3%Nd@NaGdF4@NaGdF4:10%Yb/1%Er@NaGdF4:10%Yb @NaNdF4:10%Yb multiple core-shell structure. Here the inert two layers (NaGdF4 and NaGdF4:10%Yb) can substantially eliminate the quenching effects, thus achieving markedly enhanced NIR-to-NIR DCL, NIR-to-Vis up-conversion luminescence (UCL), and thermal effect under a single 808 nm light excitation simultaneously. The UCL excites the attached photosensitive drug (Au25 nanoclusters) to generate singlet oxygen ((1)O2) for photodynamic therapy (PDT), while DCL with strong NIR emission serves as probe for sensitive deep-tissue imaging. The in vitro and in vivo experimental results demonstrate the excellent cancer inhibition efficacy of this platform due to a synergistic effect arising from the combined PTT and PDT. Furthermore, multimodal imaging including fluorescence imaging (FI), photothermal imaging (PTI), and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) has been obtained, which is used to monitor the drug delivery process, internal structure of tumor and photo-therapeutic process, thus achieving the target of imaging-guided cancer therapy.

He F ，Feng L ，Yang P ，Liu B ，Gai S ，Yang G ，Dai Y ，Lin J ... -  《-》

Tunable concentration-dependent upconversion and downconversion luminescence in NaYF(4): Yb(3+), Er(3+)@ NaYF(4): Yb(3+), Nd(3+) core-shell nanocrystals for a dual-mode anti-counterfeiting imaging application.

Cui S ，Tao L ，Chan WK ，Zhou D ，Yu Z ，Xu W ... -  《-》

NaGdF4:Yb(3+)/Er(3+)@NaGdF4:Nd(3+)@Sodium-Gluconate: Multifunctional and Biocompatible Ultrasmall Core-Shell Nanohybrids for UCL/MR/CT Multimodal Imaging.

Ma D ，Meng L ，Chen Y ，Hu M ，Chen Y ，Huang C ，Shang J ，Wang R ，Guo Y ，Yang J ... -  《-》