Encarnación Arroyo, José M. Monje-Moreno, Beatriz Torres-Herrero, Manuel J. Munoz, Jesús M. de la Fuente, Ana I. Becerro, Manuel Ocaña
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Persistent luminescent (PersL) nanophosphors that emit in the near infrared (NIR) region are promising nanoprobes for in vivo bioimaging. Although Cr3+-doped zinc gallate nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely studied as in vivo bioimaging nanoprobes due to their NIR PersL emission at 695 nm, the simpler Cr3+-doped gallium oxide system has been less explored despite its deeper NIR emission (760 nm), which favors tissue penetration. This is likely due the lack of synthesis methods that render Ga2O3-based NPs suitable for in vivo applications. In this paper, a novel method for the synthesis of uniform and hydrophilic γ-Ga2O3:Cr3+ NPs is reported, whose photoluminescence (PL) and PersL are optimized by adjusting their Cr3+ content. Such properties are further greatly improved through an annealing process at high temperature, which result in the transformation of its crystal structure into the β-phase. The obtained β-Ga2O3:Cr3+ NPs are colloidally stable in a physiological pH simulator medium and are nontoxic for cells. Finally, this work studies, for the first time in literature, the in vivo biocompatibility of such NPs using a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) animal model, finding that their morbidity and reproductive toxicity are negligible. In summary, the reported NPs are excellent candidates for their use as a NIR PersL probes for in vivo bioimaging.
期刊介绍:
Advanced Optical Materials, part of the esteemed Advanced portfolio, is a unique materials science journal concentrating on all facets of light-matter interactions. For over a decade, it has been the preferred optical materials journal for significant discoveries in photonics, plasmonics, metamaterials, and more. The Advanced portfolio from Wiley is a collection of globally respected, high-impact journals that disseminate the best science from established and emerging researchers, aiding them in fulfilling their mission and amplifying the reach of their scientific discoveries.