Issue 41, 2013

Bimodal imaging using neodymium doped gadolinium fluoride nanocrystals with near-infrared to near-infrared downconversion luminescence and magnetic resonance properties

Abstract

Here we report the synthesis, characterization and application of a multifunctional surface functionalized GdF3:Nd3+ nanophosphor that exhibits efficient near infrared (NIR) fluorescence as well as magnetic properties, which can be utilized for bimodal imaging in medical applications. The nanoparticles are small with an average size of 5 nm and form stable colloids that last for several weeks without settling, enabling the use for several biomedical and photonic applications. Their excellent NIR properties, such as nearly 11% quantum yield of the 1064 nm emission, make them ideal contrast agents and biomarkers for in vitro and in vivo NIR optical bioimaging. The nanophosphors which were coated with poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadicene) (PMAO) were implemented in cellular imaging, showing no significant cellular toxicity for concentrations up to 200 μg ml−1. Furthermore, the incorporation of Gd into the nanocrystalline structure renders them with exceptional magnetic properties, making them ideal for use as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. The utility of these NIR emitting nanoparticles in infrared bioimaging and as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging was demonstrated by confocal imaging, magnetic resonance and tissue experiments.

Graphical abstract: Bimodal imaging using neodymium doped gadolinium fluoride nanocrystals with near-infrared to near-infrared downconversion luminescence and magnetic resonance properties

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Jun 2013
Accepted
28 Aug 2013
First published
29 Aug 2013

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 5702-5710

Bimodal imaging using neodymium doped gadolinium fluoride nanocrystals with near-infrared to near-infrared downconversion luminescence and magnetic resonance properties

L. C. Mimun, G. Ajithkumar, M. Pokhrel, B. G. Yust, Z. G. Elliott, F. Pedraza, A. Dhanale, L. Tang, A. Lin, V. P. Dravid and D. K. Sardar, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013, 1, 5702 DOI: 10.1039/C3TB20905A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements