title: In Vivo Repeatedly Charging Near-Infrared-Emitting Mesoporous SiO2/ZnGa2O4:Cr3+Persistent Luminescence Nanocomposites.
abstract: Near-infrared (NIR) persistent phosphor ZnGa2O4:Cr3+(ZGC) has unique deep-tissue rechargeable afterglow properties. However, the current synthesis leads to agglomerated products with irregular morphologies and wide size distributions. Herein, we report on in vivo rechargeable mesoporous SiO2/ZnGa2O4:Cr3+(mZGC) afterglow NIR-emitting nanocomposites that are made by a simple, one-step mesoporous template method. At less than 600 °C, pores in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) act as nanoreactors to generate in situ ZnGa2O4:Cr3+NIR-persistent phosphors. The as-synthesized mZGC preserves defined size, morphology, and mesoporous nanostructure of the MSNs. The persistent luminescence of the as-synthesized mZGC is recharged in a simulated deep-tissue environment (e.g., ≈8 mm pork slab) in vitro by using red light (620 nm). Moreover, mZGC can be repeatedly activated in vivo for persistent luminescence imaging in a live mouse model by using white LED as a light source. Our concept of utilizing mesoporous silica as nanoreactor to fabricate ZGC PL nanoparticles with controllable morphology and preserved porous nanostructure paves a new way to the development and the wide application of deep tissue rechargeable ZGC in photonics and biophotonics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Zhanjun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Yuanwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jimei Road 1799, Xiamen 361021, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maudgal
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jimei Road 1799, Xiamen 361021, China.
authors.forename: Hongwu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Han