title: Multifunctional core-shell upconverting nanoparticles for imaging and photodynamic therapy of liver cancer cells.
abstract: Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have attracted considerable attention for their application in biomedicine. Here, silica-coated NaGdF(4):Yb,Er/NaGdF(4) nanoparticles with a tetrasubstituted carboxy aluminum phthalocyanine (AlC(4)Pc) photosensitizer covalently incorporated inside the silica shells were prepared and applied in the photodynamic therapy (PDT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cancer cells. These UCNP@SiO(2)(AlC(4)Pc) nanoparticles were uniform in size, stable against photosensitizer leaching, and highly efficient in photogenerating cytotoxic singlet oxygen under near-infrared (NIR) light. In vitro studies indicated that these nanoparticles could effectively kill cancer cells upon NIR irradiation. Moreover, the nanoparticles also demonstrated good MR contrast, both in aqueous solution and inside cells. This is the first time that NaGdF(4):Yb,Er/NaGdF(4) upconversion-nanocrystal-based multifunctional nanomaterials have been synthesized and applied in PDT. Our results show that these multifunctional nanoparticles are very promising for applications in versatile imaging diagnosis and as a therapy tool in biomedical engineering.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid, Surfaces and the Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zengxia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yuning
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chenghong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaolan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Nanfeng
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry; D007259:Infrared Rays; D028581:Lanthanoid Series Elements / Q000737:chemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D028581:Lanthanoid Series Elements; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C060570:aluminum phthalocyanine; D012822:Silicon Dioxide