1. Surface-rare-earth-rich upconversion nanoparticles induced by heterovalent cation exchange with superior loading capacity.
- Author
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Wang, Meifeng, Qin, Yiru, Shao, Wei, Cai, ZhiWang, Zhao, Xiaoyu, Hu, Yongjun, Zhang, Tao, Li, Sheng, Swihart, Mark T., Liu, Yang, and Wei, Wei
- Subjects
PHOTON upconversion ,FUNCTIONAL groups ,CATIONS ,NANOPARTICLES ,COLLOIDAL stability - Abstract
• Functional molecules can be loaded onto NaREF 4 (RE = rare earth) upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) through the formation of coordination bonds between the surface-exposed RE
3+ ions and the appropriate chemical groups of functional molecules. Thus, the density of surface RE3+ ions directly determines the loading efficiency of NaREF 4 UCNPs. However, NaREF 4 is a binary cation system, rendering the surface-distributed Na+ and RE3+ ions remains a mystery. In this work, we introduce an effective strategy to significantly enhance the density of surface RE3+ ions, thus maximizing the loading capacity of NaREF 4 UCNPs. • The strategy is based on a heterovalent cation exchange (HCE) reaction in the surface region in which Na+ ions are replaced by RE3+ ions. The density of surface ligands enhances from 3.6 to 8.8 molecules/nm2 after reaction, suggesting that the loading efficiency increases by approximately 150%. • Benefiting from the improved loading capacity, we demonstrate such surface-RE-rich nanoparticles have the ability to offer higher colloidal stability and more desirable photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy. Surface modification of different functional molecules onto NaREF 4 (RE = rare earth) upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) impart their multiple functionalities. Functional molecules can be loaded onto NaREF 4 UCNPs through the formation of coordination bonds between the surface-exposed RE3+ ions and the appropriate chemical groups of functional molecules. The density of surface RE3+ ions directly determines the loading efficiency of NaREF 4 UCNPs. However, NaREF 4 is a binary cation system, rendering the surface-distributed Na+ and RE3+ ions remains a mystery. Here, we develop an effective strategy to significantly enhance the density of surface RE3+ ions, thus maximizing the loading capacity of NaREF 4 UCNPs. This strategy is based on a heterovalent cation exchange (HCE) reaction in the surface region in which Na+ ions are replaced by RE3+ ions. The density of surface ligands enhances from 3.6 to 8.8 molecules/nm2 after reaction, suggesting that the loading efficiency increases by approximately 150%. Benefiting from the improved loading capacity, we demonstrate such surface-RE-rich nanoparticles have the ability to offer higher colloidal stability and more desirable photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy. This work not only advances our understanding of cation exchange reactions in RE-based nanoparticles, but also provides significant value for considerable applications such as sensing, bioimaging, and therapy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
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