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Ligand‐Functionalization of BPEI‐Coated YVO 4 :Bi 3+ ,Eu 3+ Nanophosphors for Tumor‐Cell‐Targeted Imaging Applications
Author(s) -
Chen YiChin,
Huang ShengCih,
Wang YuKuo,
Liu YuanTing,
Wu TungKung,
Chen TengMing
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.201300570
Subject(s) - surface modification , materials science , ligand (biochemistry) , nanotechnology , crystallography , chemistry , biochemistry , receptor
In this study, surface‐functionalized, branched polyethylenimine (BPEI)‐modified YVO 4 :Bi 3+ ,Eu 3+ nanocrystals (NCs) were successfully synthesized by a simple, rapid, solvent‐free hydrothermal method. The BPEI‐coated YVO 4 :Bi 3+ ,Eu 3+ NCs with high crystallinity show broad‐band excitation in the λ =250 to 400 nm near‐ultraviolet (NUV) region and exhibit a sharp‐line emission band centered at λ =619 nm under excitation at λ =350 nm. The surface amino groups contributed by the capping agent, BPEI, not only improve the dispersibility and water/buffer stability of the BPEI‐coated YVO 4 :Bi 3+ ,Eu 3+ NCs, but also provide a capability for specifically targeted biomolecule conjugation. Folic acid (FA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were further attached to the BPEI‐coated YVO 4 :Bi 3+ ,Eu 3+ NCs and exhibited effective positioning of fluorescent NCs toward the targeted folate receptor overexpressed in HeLa cells or EGFR overexpressed in A431 cells with low cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate that the ligand‐functionalized, BPEI‐coated YVO 4 :Bi 3+ , Eu 3+ NCs show great potential as a new‐generation biological luminescent bioprobe for bioimaging applications. Moreover, the unique luminescence properties of BPEI‐coated YVO 4 :Bi 3+ ,Eu 3+ NCs show potential to combine with a UVA photosensitizing drug to produce both detective and therapeutic effects for human skin cancer therapy .