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Lanthanide‐Doped LiLuF 4 Upconversion Nanoprobes for the Detection of Disease Biomarkers
Author(s) -
Huang Ping,
Zheng Wei,
Zhou Shanyong,
Tu Datao,
Chen Zhuo,
Zhu Haomiao,
Li Renfu,
Ma En,
Huang Mingdong,
Chen Xueyuan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201309503
Subject(s) - lanthanide , photon upconversion , nanotechnology , detection limit , materials science , nanoparticle , doping , luminescence , chemistry , ion , optoelectronics , chromatography , organic chemistry
Lanthanide‐doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have shown great promise in bioapplications. Exploring new host materials to realize efficient upconversion luminescence (UCL) output is a goal of general concern. Herein, we develop a unique strategy for the synthesis of novel LiLuF 4 :Ln 3+ core/shell UCNPs with typically high absolute upconversion quantum yields of 5.0 % and 7.6 % for Er 3+ and Tm 3+ , respectively. Based on our customized UCL biodetection system, we demonstrate for the first time the application of LiLuF 4 :Ln 3+ core/shell UCNPs as sensitive UCL bioprobes for the detection of an important disease marker β subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG) with a detection limit of 3.8 ng mL −1 , which is comparable to the β‐hCG level in the serum of normal humans. Furthermore, we use these UCNPs in proof‐of‐concept computed tomography imaging and UCL imaging of cancer cells, thus revealing the great potential of LiLuF 4 :Ln 3+ UCNPs as efficient nano‐bioprobes in disease diagnosis.