Upconverting/magnetic: Gd2O3:(Er3+,Yb3+,Zn2+) nanoparticles for biological applications: effect of Zn2+ doping

I. Kamińska; K. Fronc; B. Sikora; M. Mouawad; A. Siemiarczuk; M. Szewczyk; K. Sobczak; T. Wojciechowski; W. Zaleszczyk; R. Minikayev; W. Paszkowicz; P. Stępień; P. Dziawa; K. Ciszak; D. Piątkowski; S. Maćkowski; M. Kaliszewski; M. Włodarski; J. Młyńczak; K. Kopczyński; M. Łapiński; D. Elbaum

doi:10.1039/C5RA11888C

Upconverting/magnetic: Gd₂O₃:(Er³⁺,Yb³⁺,Zn²⁺) nanoparticles for biological applications: effect of Zn²⁺ doping†

I. Kamińska,*^a K. Fronc,^a B. Sikora,^a M. Mouawad,^b A. Siemiarczuk,^b M. Szewczyk,^c K. Sobczak,^a T. Wojciechowski,^a W. Zaleszczyk,^a R. Minikayev,^a W. Paszkowicz,^a P. Stępień,^cde P. Dziawa,^a K. Ciszak,^f D. Piątkowski,^f S. Maćkowski,^fg M. Kaliszewski,^h M. Włodarski,^h J. Młyńczak,^h K. Kopczyński,^h M. Łapińskiⁱ and D. Elbaum^a

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* Corresponding authors

^a Institute of Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
E-mail: ikaminska@ifpan.edu.pl

^b Fast Kinetics Application Laboratory, HORIBA – PTI Canada, 347 Consortium Court, London, Ontario, N6E 2S8 Canada

^c Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland

^d Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland

^e Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Ochota, Poland

^f Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University Toruń, Poland

^g Wrocław Research Center EIT+, Wrocław, Poland

^h Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland

ⁱ Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland

Abstract

Upconverting Gd₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) doped 1% Er³⁺ and 18% Yb³⁺ permits one to perform optical imaging. Because of the presence of Gd³⁺ they are useful in MRI. The main challenge is to enhance the NPs upconversion efficiency. As a result of co-doping the NPs with Zn²⁺ ions, achieved using microwave-induced solution combustion synthesis, we obtained optimal upconversion quantum yields (UQYs). The breakdown of the local crystal field symmetry around the rare earth ions, maximal in the presence of 5% of zinc, may be responsible for the highest observed UQY. The upconversion of IR light results in emission of visible red light mainly at 660 nm and at 550 nm. Optimized red photoluminescence of the samples observed in an organic environment was examined as a function of the laser power density to explain the mechanism of the upconversion emission. Paramagnetic properties of the NPs were determined by superconducting quantum interference device measurements. The non-functionalized nanoparticles incubated with HeLa cells were endocytosed and imaged by confocal laser scanning microscopy. We investigated their localization inside HeLa cells for various incubation times and NPs concentrations. PrestoBlue toxicity assay was performed to test the NPs bio-efficacy.

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Upconverting/magnetic: Gd₂O₃:(Er³⁺,Yb³⁺,Zn²⁺) nanoparticles for biological applications: effect of Zn²⁺ doping†

Abstract

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Upconverting/magnetic: Gd₂O₃:(Er³⁺,Yb³⁺,Zn²⁺) nanoparticles for biological applications: effect of Zn²⁺ doping

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