Synthesis of bifunctional Gd2O3：Eu3＋nanocrystals and their applications in biomedical imaging

• Published in: Journal of rare earths 2015-05, Vol.33 (5), p.529-534
• Main Author: 吴燕利 徐贤柱 李倩兰 阳如春 丁海新 肖强
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: dual-modality; Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanocrystal; optical and MR imaging; rare earths; 双功能; 合成; 应用; 扫描电子显微镜; 氧化钆; 生物医学成像; 纳米晶体; 铕离子
• ISSN: 1002-0721; 2509-4963
• DOI: 10.1016/S1002-0721(14)60452-X

Ultrafine Gd2O3：Eu3＋nanocrystals were successfully prepared by a simple reverse microemulsion method and subsequent calcination. Their structural, optical and magnetic properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmis-sion electron microscopy （TEM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, Fourier transform infrared （FTIR）, photoluminescence （PL）, and magnetic property measurement system （MPMS）. The amorphous Gd2（CO3）3：Eu3＋colloidal spheres were proved as an intermediate product, and gradually transformed into crystallized Gd2O3：Eu3＋with average diameter less than 100 nm. The paramagnetic property of the synthesized Gd2O3：Eu3＋nanocrystals were confirmed with its linear hysteresis plot （M-H）. And Gd2O3：Eu3＋nanocrystals showed high contrast T1-enhancing modality due to the presence of the Gd3＋ ions onto the particle surface. In addition, the application of the Gd2O3：Eu3＋nanocrystals as biotag for cell labeling was reported, red fluorescence from Eu3＋ions observed by fluorescence micros-copy showed that the nanocrystals could permeate the cell membrane. Cytotoxicity studies of the Gd2O3：Eu3＋nanocrystals showed no adverse effect on cell viability, evidencing their high biological compatibility. Therefore, the nanoprobe formed from Gd2O3：Eu3＋nanocrystals provided the dual modality of optical and magnetic resonance imaging.