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CdS/CuInS2/Au/TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTAs) were fabricated by deposition and dipping technique as well as successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method, where Au nanoparticles were used to improve the interfacial electron transfer and quantum dots (QDs) of CdS and CuInS2 (4.1 nm) to stimulate the formation of an ideal stepwise band edge structure with TiO2. High and stable photocurrent responses were observed on the NTA electrode. A photoelectrochemical aptasensor toward cytochrome c (cyt c) was then fabricated by immobilization of HS-aptamer on the NTAs via Cd-S bond and Cu-S bond. Sensitive and selective detection of cyt c was achieved with a detection range of 5 pM to 100 nM.

Upconversion nanomaterials with complex morphologies have attracted considerable interests due to morphology-dependent properties. In this work, silica coated-NaYF4 upconversion nanomaterials (NaYF4@SiO2) of various shapes – nanorods, nanodumbbell and nanowire – were synthesized through controlling the ratio of NaYF4 nanorods to silica. The nanodumbbell and nanowire morphologies showed much higher fluorescence efficiency than that of nanorod. These upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) exhibited a high signal-to-noise ratio, effectively circumvent luminescence quenching and excellent photo-stability under 980 nm excitation. In particular, the as-prepared nanodumbbells were successfully applied to rapid latent fingerprint imaging, showing advantages over commercial fluorescence reagents. Such nanoparticles with further modification are expected to have a great potential in forensic and biological sciences.

Here we report a novel drug delivery system using mesoporous inner-empty upconversion microspheres carrying drugs with ZnO quantum dots (UCMPS@ZnO) acting as a 'door-keeper' for pH-triggered drug release. Compared to other upconversion drug delivery systems, it is smarter, simpler, more efficient and more biocompatible. In particular, the UCMPS@ZnO microspheres show low cytotoxicity, are simple to produce and have a high drug loading rate (15%). Promisingly, a mice treatment experiment demonstrated that the multifunctional nanoparticles have efficient inhibition of tumor growth after a 14-day treatment. This makes UCMPS@DOX-ZnO microspheres a promising theranostic candidate in cancer treatment and clinical trials.