Light sheet microscopy and SrAl 2 O 4 nanoparticles codoped with Eu 2+ /Dy 3+ ions for cancer cell tagging

Light sheet optical microscopy on strontium aluminate nanoparticles (SrAl 2 O 4 NPs)1 codoped with Eu 2+ and Dy 3+ was used for cancer cell tagging and tracking. The nanoparticles were synthesized by urea‐assisted combustion with optimized percentage values of the 2 codoping rare‐earth ions for cell viability and for lower cytotoxic effects. The optical properties of these materials showed an excitation wide range of wavelengths ( λ exc = 254‐460 nm), a broad emission band ( λ em = 475‐575 nm) with the maximum centered wavelength at 525 nm and a half lifetime within the seconds regime. The feasibility to measure the nanoparticle luminescence under the selective plane illumination configuration was studied by immersing the nanoparticles in 1% Agarose. The potential applicability of the synthesized nanophosphors for cancer cell tagging was demonstrated by using in vitro experiments with human breast adenocarcinoma MCF‐7 cells. A single MCF‐7 cell observed by the use of light sheet microscopy with UV excitation. The cell has been bio‐labeled with FA‐SrAl 2 0 4 : Eu 2+ , Dy 3+ NPs and 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole, dihydrochloride for nucleus identification.