Stokes emission in GdF3:Nd3+ nanoparticles for bioimaging probes
Abstract
There is increasing interest in rare earth (RE) doped nanoparticles (NPs) due to their sharp absorption and photoluminescence (PL) in the near infrared (NIR) spectral region. These NIR based nanoparticles (NPs) could allow biological imaging at substantial depths with enhanced contrast and high spatial resolution due to the absence of auto fluorescence in biological samples under infrared excitation. Here, we present the highly efficient infrared photoluminescence in GdF3:Nd3+ nanoparticles under 800 nm excitation within the hydrodynamic size limitations for bio-applications. The downconversion (Stokes emission) absolute quantum yields (QY) in powder, polymaleic anhydride-alt-1-octadicene (PMAO) coated powder and colloidal solutions have been investigated. QY measurements have revealed that downconversion (Stokes emission) QYs of approximately 5 +/- 2 nm sized GdF3:1% Nd3+ colloidal NPs are 2000 times higher than those of efficient upconversion (UC) particles NaYF4:20% Er/2% Yb of the same size. Furthermore, the utility of these NIR emitting nanoparticles for bioimaging probes has been demonstrated by confocal imaging and spectroscopic study.There is increasing interest in rare earth (RE) doped nanoparticles (NPs) due to their sharp absorption and photoluminescence (PL) in the near infrared (NIR) spectral region. These NIR based nanoparticles (NPs) could allow biological imaging at substantial depths with enhanced contrast and high spatial resolution due to the absence of auto fluorescence in biological samples under infrared excitation. Here, we present the highly efficient infrared photoluminescence in GdF3:Nd3+ nanoparticles under 800 nm excitation within the hydrodynamic size limitations for bio-applications. The downconversion (Stokes emission) absolute quantum yields (QY) in powder, polymaleic anhydride-alt-1-octadicene (PMAO) coated powder and colloidal solutions have been investigated. QY measurements have revealed that downconversion (Stokes emission) QYs of approximately 5 +/- 2 nm sized GdF3:1% Nd3+ colloidal NPs are 2000 times higher than those of efficient upconversion (UC) particles NaYF4:20% Er/2% Yb of the same size. Furthermore, the utility of these NIR emitting nanoparticles for bioimaging probes has been demonstrated by confocal imaging and spectroscopic study.
Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Quantum Yield (QY) setup, TEM images showing defects, QY calibration and calculation, QY calculation using the comparison method, pH dependent fluorescence, cell viability and cytotoxicity, absorption spectra with an absorption and emission cross-section table for the excitation and emission bands. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr03317a- Publication:
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Nanoscale
- Pub Date:
- January 2014
- DOI:
- 10.1039/c3nr03317a
- Bibcode:
- 2014Nanos...6.1667P