Progressive Optimization of Lanthanide Nanoparticle Scintillators for Enhanced Triple‐Activated Radioluminescence Imaging

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024-07, Vol.63 (30), p.e202401683-n/a
• Main Authors: Li, Jingchao, Li, Yun, Ming, Jiang, Zeng, Xinying, Wang, Tingting, Yang, Hongzhang, Liu, Hongwu, An, Yibo, Zhang, Xun, Zhuang, Rongqiang, Su, Xinhui, Guo, Zhide, Zhang, Xianzhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cerenkov luminescence; Cerenkov radiation; Energy conversion; Imaging agents; Lanthanides; Luminescence; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Optimization; Pharmaceuticals; Radio signals; Radioisotopes; Radioluminescence; Scintillation counters; Tumor multiplex visualization; Tumors
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401683

Lanthanide nanoparticle (LnNP) scintillators exhibit huge potential in achieving radionuclide‐activated luminescence (radioluminescence, RL). However, their structure–activity relationship remains largely unexplored. Herein, progressive optimization of LnNP scintillators is presented to unveil their structure‐dependent RL property and enhance their RL output efficiency. Benefiting from the favorable host matrix and the luminescence‐protective effect of core–shell engineering, NaGdF4 : 15 %Eu@NaLuF4 nanoparticle scintillators with tailored structures emerged as the top candidates. Living imaging experiments based on optimal LnNP scintillators validated the feasibility of laser‐free continuous RL activated by clinical radiopharmaceuticals for tumor multiplex visualization. This research provides unprecedented insights into the rational design of LnNP scintillators, which would enable efficient energy conversion from Cerenkov luminescence, γ‐radiation, and β‐electrons into visible photon signals, thus establishing a robust nanotechnology‐aided approach for tumor‐directed radio‐phototheranostics. A progressive optimization on lanthanide nanoparticle (LnNP) scintillators was performed to maximize their radionuclide‐activated luminescence (RL) emission intensity and reveal the underlying relationship between the scintillators′ structure and RL efficiency. The results regarding the RL mechanism and in vivo multimodal imaging strongly indicated the significant potential of tailored LnNP scintillators to achieve seamlessly integrated tumor radio‐phototheranostics.