Upconversion Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Surface Modification and Biological Applications
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Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine xx (2011) xxx – xxx www.nanomedjournal.com
Review Article
Upconversion nanoparticles: synthesis, surface modification and biological applications
Meng Wang, PhDa,c , Gopal Abbineni, MSb , April Clevenger, MSb , Chuanbin Mao, PhDb , Shukun Xu, MSa,⁎ a College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA c Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Sciences, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, People's Republic of China Received 14 November 2010; accepted 19 February 2011 b
Abstract New generation fluorophores, also termed upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), have the ability to convert near infrared radiations with lower energy into visible radiations with higher energy via a nonlinear optical process. Recently, these UCNPs have evolved as alternative fluorescent labels to traditional fluorophores, showing great potential for imaging and biodetection assays in both in vitro and in vivo applications. UCNPs exhibit unique luminescent properties, including high penetration depth into tissues, low background signals, large Stokes shifts, sharp emission bands, and high resistance to photobleaching, making UCNPs an attractive alternative source for overcoming current limitations in traditional fluorescent probes. In this article, we discuss the recent progress in the synthesis and surface modification of rare-earth doped UCNPs with a specific focus on their biological applications. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Key words: Upconversion; Rare earth; Luminescent materials; Nanomaterials; Biological detection
Recent advancements in science have allowed a greater availability of enhanced sensitive analytical techniques, in particular, advanced tools for fluorescence imaging.1 The last decade's research has provided
Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine xx (2011) xxx – xxx www.nanomedjournal.com
Review Article
Upconversion nanoparticles: synthesis, surface modification and biological applications
Meng Wang, PhDa,c , Gopal Abbineni, MSb , April Clevenger, MSb , Chuanbin Mao, PhDb , Shukun Xu, MSa,⁎ a College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA c Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Sciences, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, People's Republic of China Received 14 November 2010; accepted 19 February 2011 b
Abstract New generation fluorophores, also termed upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), have the ability to convert near infrared radiations with lower energy into visible radiations with higher energy via a nonlinear optical process. Recently, these UCNPs have evolved as alternative fluorescent labels to traditional fluorophores, showing great potential for imaging and biodetection assays in both in vitro and in vivo applications. UCNPs exhibit unique luminescent properties, including high penetration depth into tissues, low background signals, large Stokes shifts, sharp emission bands, and high resistance to photobleaching, making UCNPs an attractive alternative source for overcoming current limitations in traditional fluorescent probes. In this article, we discuss the recent progress in the synthesis and surface modification of rare-earth doped UCNPs with a specific focus on their biological applications. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Key words: Upconversion; Rare earth; Luminescent materials; Nanomaterials; Biological detection
Recent advancements in science have allowed a greater availability of enhanced sensitive analytical techniques, in particular, advanced tools for fluorescence imaging.1 The last decade's research has provided