title: Polymeric nanocapsules with up-converting nanocrystals cargo make ideal fluorescent bioprobes.
abstract: An innovative approach for up-converting nanoparticles adaptation for bio-related and theranostic applications is presented. We have successfully encapsulated multiple, ~8 nm in size NaYF4 nanoparticles inside the polymeric nanocarriers with average size of ~150 nm. The initial coating of nanoparticles surfaces was preserved due to the hydrophobic environment inside the nanocapsules, and thus no single nanoparticle surface functionalization was necessary. The selection of biodegradable and sugar-based polyelectrolyte shells ensured biocompatibility of the nanostructures, while the choice of Tm(3+) and Yb(3+) NaYF4 nanoparticles co-doping allowed for near-infrared to near-infrared bioimaging of healthy and cancerous cell lines. The protective role of organic shell resulted in not only preserved high up-converted emission intensity and long luminescence lifetimes, without quenching from water environment, but also ensured low cytotoxicity and high cellular uptake of the engineered nanocapsules. The multifunctionality of the proposed nanocarriers is a consequence of both the organic exterior part that is accessible for conjugation with biologically important molecules, and the hydrophobic interior, which in future application may be used as a container for co-encapsulation of inorganic nanoparticles and anticancer drug cargo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bazylińska
authors.affiliation: Advanced Materials Engineering and Modelling Group, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wawrzyńczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Chałubińskiego 10, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kulbacka
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frąckowiak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, PAS, Okólna 2, 50-422 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cichy
authors.affiliation: Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, PAS, Okólna 2, 50-422 Wroclaw, Poland.|Wroclaw Research Center EIT+, Stablowicka 147, 54-066 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bednarkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Advanced Materials Engineering and Modelling Group, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samoć
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wilk