Hexanedioic acid mediated surface-ligand-exchange process for transferring NaYF4:Yb/Er (or Yb/Tm) up-converting nanoparticles from hydrophobic to hydrophilic.
Water-soluble and carboxyl-functionalized up-converting rare-earth nanoparticles (UCNPs) are obtained via an efficient surface-ligand-exchange procedure. Hexanedioic acid molecules are employed to replace the original hydrophobic ligands in diethylene glycol solvent at high temperature. Various characterizations indicate the ligand-exchange process has negligible adverse effect on the quality of the UCNPs. The resulting hydrophilic UCNPs show small size, strong up-converting emission and high water stability. The specific molecular recognition capacity of avidin-modified hydrophilic UCNPs confirms that hydrophilic UCNPs are suitable for potential biological labeling.
Key Laboratory of Excited State Process, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, PR China.
Qingbin
Q
Zhang
Kai
K
Song
Junwei
J
Zhao
Xianggui
X
Kong
Yajuan
Y
Sun
Xiaomin
X
Liu
Youlin
Y
Zhang
Qinghui
Q
Zeng
Hong
H
Zhang
D000272:Adipates / Q000737:chemistry*; D001360:Avidin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004871:Erbium / Q000737:chemistry; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008024:Ligands; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D011485:Protein Binding; D013499:Surface Properties; D013932:Thulium / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D015018:Ytterbium / Q000737:chemistry; D015019:Yttrium / Q000737:chemistry*
D000272:Adipates; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D008024:Ligands; C525362:sodium yttriumtetrafluoride; D014867:Water; D001360:Avidin; D015019:Yttrium; C013484:diethylene glycol; C029900:adipic acid; D004871:Erbium; D013932:Thulium; D015018:Ytterbium; D005459:Fluorides