Abstract Scope |
Lanthanide-doped fluoride nanoparticles are valuable in modern technological and biomedical applications as diagnostic probes and therapeutic agents in nanomedicine. In this communication, we describe an investigation on alkaline earth nanoparticles properly activated with luminescent lanthanide ions (e.g., Yb3+, Nd3+, Tm3+, Er3+), which exhibit strong emissions in the optical range (UV, visible, and NIR).
The nanoparticles have been prepared using a “green chemistry” microwave-assisted hydrothermal technique, with hydrophilic and biocompatible molecules as capping agents, citrate, or glutamate moieties. The coordination of these molecules on the nanoparticle surface confers excellent colloidal stability and opens the way to further functionalization on the nanoparticle surface. This facile synthesis allows the preparation of nanoparticles directly dispersed in aqueous solutions, with the possibility of fine-tuning the nanoparticle size by variation of the experimental conditions, such as the reaction temperature and the concentrations of the starting reagents. |