Ln3+-doped hydroxyapatite nanocrystals: controllable synthesis and cell imaging†
Abstract
In this paper we report two different doping strategies to prepare a series of novel HAp:Ln3+ (Ln = Eu or Tb) nanocrystals with tunable aspect ratios via facile hydrothermal synthetic routes. Adopting a one-pot synthetic strategy, with increasing rare-earth doping dosage, the as-prepared nanocrystals have relatively weak fluorescence intensity, and change from nanorods with lengths of about 150 nm into nanowires with lengths of about 2 μm. Using the synthetic pure HAp nanorods as matrices, they are endowed with bright green or red luminescent properties by doping Tb3+ or Eu3+ ions via a second hydrothermal process, and simultaneously retain their original morphologies (diameter 8 nm, length 150 nm). The hydrophobic HAp:Ln3+ nanorods with strong optical properties are converted into hydrophilic particles with a surfactant (Pluronic F127) and successfully applied to live cell imaging.
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