title: Sequential Growth of NaYF4:Yb/Er@NaGdF4Nanodumbbells for Dual-Modality Fluorescence and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
abstract: Upconversional core-shell nanostructures have gained considerable attention due to their distinct enhanced fluorescence efficiency, multifunctionality, and specific applications. Recently, we have developed a sequential growth process to fabricate unique upconversion core-shell nanoparticles. Time evolution of morphology for the NaYF4:Yb/Er@NaGdF4nanodumbbells has been extensively investigated. An Ostwald ripening growth mechanism has been proposed to illustrate the formation of NaYF4:Yb/Er@NaGdF4nanodumbbells. The hydrophilic NaYF4:Yb/Er@NaGdF4core-shell nanodumbbells exhibited strong upconversion fluorescence and showed higher magnetic resonance longitudinal relaxivity (r1= 7.81 mM-1s-1) than commercial contrast agents (Gd-DTPA). NaYF4:Yb/Er@NaGdF4nanodumbbells can serve as good candidates for high efficiency fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses Anhui, and Clinical Laboratory of the First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University , Hefei, Anhui 230022, China.|Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University , Hefei, Anhui 230022, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Qin
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Huang-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University , Hefei, Anhui 230022, China.
authors.forename: Mao-Hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Anhui Provincial Hospital , Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
authors.forename: Yun-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Anhui Provincial Hospital , Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Anhui Provincial Hospital , Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Department of Pathogen Biology, Provincial Laboratories of Pathogen Biology and Zoonoses Anhui, and Clinical Laboratory of the First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University , Hefei, Anhui 230022, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hai-Sheng
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4903-3447
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Qian
keywords: MR imaging compatibility; nanodumbbells; sequential growth; upconversion nanoparticles