title: Synthesis of Gd2O3:Eu nanoplatelets for MRI and fluorescence imaging.
abstract: We synthesized Gd2O3 and Gd2O3 doped by europium (Eu) (2% to 10%) nanoplatelets using the polyol chemical method. The synthesized nanoplatelets were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FESEM, TEM, and EDX techniques. The optical properties of the synthesized nanoplatelets were investigated by photoluminescence spectroscopy. We also studied the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement of T1 relaxivity using 3 T MRI. The XRD for Gd2O3 revealed a cubic crystalline structure. The XRD of Gd2O3:Eu(3+) nanoplatelets were highly consistent with Gd2O3 indicating the total incorporation of the Eu(3+) ions in the Gd2O3 matrix. The Eu doping of Gd2O3 produced red luminescence around 612 nm corresponding to the radiative transitions from the Eu-excited state (5)D0 to the (7)F2. The photoluminescence was maximal at 5% Eu doping concentration. The stimulated CIE chromaticity coordinates were also calculated. Judd-Ofelt analysis was used to obtain the radiative properties of the sample from the emission spectra. The MRI contrast enhancement due to Gd2O3 was compared to DOTAREM commercial contrast agent at similar concentration of gadolinium oxide and provided similar contrast enhancement. The incorporation of Eu, however, decreased the MRI contrast due to replacement of gadolinium by Eu.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261 Saudi Arabia ; Physics Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261 Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nabil M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Maalej
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261 Saudi Arabia ; Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261 Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahsanulhaq
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qurashi
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Géoressouces, Matériaux, Environnement et Changements Globaux, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax, Sfax, 3018 Tunisia.
authors.forename: Achraf Amir
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Assadi
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Géoressouces, Matériaux, Environnement et Changements Globaux, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax, Sfax, 3018 Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ramzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maalej
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261 Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed Nasiruzzaman
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261 Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilyas
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261 Saudi Arabia ; Physics Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261 Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gondal
keywords: MRI contrast; Photoluminescent nanoparticles; Rare earth nanoparticles