Open AccessHybrid Hierarchical Heterostructures of Nanoceramic Phosphors as Imaging Agents for Multiplexing and Living Cancer Cells Translocation
Author(s) -
David G. Calatayud,
Teresa Jardiel,
Mara S. Bernardo,
Vincenzo Mirabello,
Haobo Ge,
Rory L. Arrowsmith,
Fernando CortezonTamarit,
Lorena Alcaraz,
J. Isasi,
P. Arévalo,
A. C. Caballero,
Sofia I. Pascu,
M. Peiteado
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acs applied bio materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.764
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 2576-6422
DOI - 10.1021/acsabm.0c01417
Subject(s) - nanotechnology , fluorescence , nanomaterials , nanomedicine , materials science , luminescence , biomolecule , quantum dot , heterojunction , nanoparticle , fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy , biological imaging , phosphor , multiplexing , optoelectronics , computer science , optics , physics , telecommunications
Existing fluorescent labels used in life sciences are based on organic compounds with limited lifetime or on quantum dots which are either expensive or toxic and have low kinetic stability in biological environments. To address these challenges, luminescent nanomaterials have been conceived as hierarchical, core-shell structures with spherical morphology and highly controlled dimensions. These tailor-made nanophosphors incorporate Ln:YVO 4 nanoparticles (Ln = Eu(III) and Er(III)) as 50 nm cores and display intense and narrow emission maxima centered at ∼565 nm. These cores can be encapsulated in silica shells with highly controlled dimensions as well as functionalized with chitosan or PEG5000 to reduce nonspecific interactions with biomolecules in living cells. Confocal fluorescence microscopy in living prostate cancer cells confirmed the potential of these platforms to overcome the disadvantages of commercial fluorophores and their feasibility as labels for multiplexing, biosensing, and imaging in life science assays.