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Article

Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Silica-Coated Upconversion Nanoparticles from Lanthanide Oxides or Nitrates Using Co-Precipitation and Sol–Gel Methods

by
Ana Iglesias-Mejuto
1,*,
Alyne Lamy-Mendes
2,
João Pina
3,
Benilde F. O. Costa
4,
Carlos A. García-González
1,* and
Luisa Durães
2
1
AerogelsLab, I + D Farma Group (GI-1645), Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, iMATUS and Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
2
University of Coimbra, CIEPQPF—Centro de Investigação em Engenharia dos Processos Químicos e Produtos da Floresta, Department of Chemical Engineering, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal
3
Coimbra Chemistry Centre—Institute of Molecular Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
4
University of Coimbra, CFisUC, Physics Department, 3004-516 Coimbra, Portugal
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Gels 2024, 10(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10010013
Submission received: 22 November 2023 / Revised: 19 December 2023 / Accepted: 20 December 2023 / Published: 22 December 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gels: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications in High Performance Chemistry (2nd Edition))
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Abstract

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are under consideration for their use as bioimaging probes with enhanced optical performance for real time follow-up under non-invasive conditions. Photostable and core-shell NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+-SiO2 UCNPs obtained by a novel and simple co-precipitation method from lanthanide nitrates or oxides were herein synthesized for the first time. The sol–gel Stöber method followed by oven or supercritical gel drying was used to confer biocompatible surface properties to UCNPs by the formation of an ultrathin silica coating. Upconversion (UC) spectra were studied to evaluate the fluorescence of UCNPs upon red/near infrared (NIR) irradiation. ζ-potential measurements, TEM analyses, XRD patterns and long-term physicochemical stability were also assessed and confirmed that the UCNPs co-precipitation synthesis is a shape- and phase-controlling approach. The bio- and hemocompatibility of the UCNPs formulation with the highest fluorescence intensity was evaluated with murine fibroblasts and human blood, respectively, and provided excellent results that endorse the efficacy of the silica gel coating. The herein synthesized UCNPs can be regarded as efficient fluorescent probes for bioimaging purposes with the high luminescence, physicochemical stability and biocompatibility required for biomedical applications.
Keywords: upconversion luminescence; co-precipitation method; sol–gel Stöber method; lanthanide nitrates; lanthanide oxides upconversion luminescence; co-precipitation method; sol–gel Stöber method; lanthanide nitrates; lanthanide oxides
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MDPI and ACS Style

Iglesias-Mejuto, A.; Lamy-Mendes, A.; Pina, J.; Costa, B.F.O.; García-González, C.A.; Durães, L. Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Silica-Coated Upconversion Nanoparticles from Lanthanide Oxides or Nitrates Using Co-Precipitation and Sol–Gel Methods. Gels 2024, 10, 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10010013

AMA Style

Iglesias-Mejuto A, Lamy-Mendes A, Pina J, Costa BFO, García-González CA, Durães L. Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Silica-Coated Upconversion Nanoparticles from Lanthanide Oxides or Nitrates Using Co-Precipitation and Sol–Gel Methods. Gels. 2024; 10(1):13. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10010013

Chicago/Turabian Style

Iglesias-Mejuto, Ana, Alyne Lamy-Mendes, João Pina, Benilde F. O. Costa, Carlos A. García-González, and Luisa Durães. 2024. "Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Silica-Coated Upconversion Nanoparticles from Lanthanide Oxides or Nitrates Using Co-Precipitation and Sol–Gel Methods" Gels 10, no. 1: 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10010013

APA Style

Iglesias-Mejuto, A., Lamy-Mendes, A., Pina, J., Costa, B. F. O., García-González, C. A., & Durães, L. (2024). Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Silica-Coated Upconversion Nanoparticles from Lanthanide Oxides or Nitrates Using Co-Precipitation and Sol–Gel Methods. Gels, 10(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10010013

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