Lengthening the Lifetime of Common Emissive Probes to Microseconds by a Jigsaw‐Like Construction of NIR‐Responsive Nanohybrids

Breaking the Nd3+-sensitized upconversion nanoparticles myth about the need of onion-layered structures

Up to now, most strategies to build efficient 800 nm-light responsive upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have included onion-layered structures, in which Nd3+ is confined within the inorganic crystal structure of at least one layer. We report here an easy room-temperature modular preparation of core-shell UCNPs consisting of NaYF4:Yb,Er(Tm)/NaYF4 (UCCS) with Nd3+ anchored at the organic capping by using cucurbituril[7] (CB[7]) as an adhesive. Strikingly, excitation at 800 nm effectively triggers the upconversion emission of UCCS@CB[7]@Nd nanohybrids.

Initial Biological Assessment of Upconversion Nanohybrids

Nanoparticles for medical use should be non-cytotoxic and free of bacterial contamination. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) coated with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) made by combining UCNPs free of oleic acid, here termed bare UCNPs (UCn), and CB[7], i.e., UC@CB[7] nanohybrids, could be used as photoactive inorganic-organic hybrid scaffolds for biological applications. UCNPs, in general, are not considered to be highly toxic materials, but the release of fluorides and lanthanides upon their dissolution may cause cytotoxicity. To identify potential adverse effects of the nanoparticles, dehydrogenase activity of endothelial cells, exposed to various concentrations of the UCNPs, was determined. Da…

NIR laser scanning microscopy for photophysical characterization of upconversion nanoparticles and nanohybrids

Photophysical characterization of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and nanohybrids (UCNHs) is more challenging than that of down-conversion nanomaterials. Moreover, it is still difficult to gain knowledge about the homogeneity of the sample and colocalization of emissive chromophores and nanoparticles in nanohybrids. Near infrared laser scanning microscopy (NIR-LSM) is a well-known and useful imaging technique, which enables excitation in the NIR region and has been extensively applied to optical fluorescence imaging of organic fluorophores and nanomaterials, such as quantum dots, which exhibit a short-lived emission. NIR-LSM has recently been used to determine the empirical emission life…

Linear Coassembly of Upconversion and Perovskite Nanoparticles: Sensitized Upconversion Emission of Perovskites by Lanthanide‐Doped Nanoparticles

Sensitized emission of lead halide perovskite nanoparticles (LHPNPs) can be achieved by near‐infrared (NIR) excitation of nearby lanthanide‐doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) by using a low‐cost diode laser. Here, the first preparation of linear assemblies of core and core–shell NPs, as well as linear coassemblies of LHPNPs and UCNPs, within an open peapod‐like lead sulfate shell are reported. UCNPs with a NaYF4 matrix doped with ytterbium and thulium or erbium, and with an inert shell of NaYF4 in the case of core‐shell, and all‐inorganic CsPbX3 NPs (X = halide) are chosen for these studies. Interestingly, the lead sulfate shell enhances the luminescence of the core/core– shell UCNPs …

Functional Nanohybrids Based on Dyes and Upconversion Nanoparticles

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and dyes are combined to make nanohybrid systems, which take advantage of the synergic relationship between lanthanide (Ln)-based UCNPs and dyes. Ln-UCNPs are inorganic nanophosphors which absorb NIR light and emit narrow emission bands in the UV-NIR region with long luminescence lifetimes. These unique properties, when coordinated properly with dyes of the appropriate photophysical features, produce nanosystems with new photophysical properties. In this context, the UCNP-dye nanohybrids are very promising for potential sensing (ions and biomolecules) and theragnosis (imaging and therapy, e.g. photodynamic therapy).