Lanthanide nano-drums: a new class of molecular nanoparticles for potential biomedical applicationsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. CCDC 921361-921363 and 1004328. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c4fd00117f

• Main Authors: Jones, Richard A, Gnanam, Annie J, Arambula, Jonathan F, Jones, Jessica N, Swaminathan, Jagannath, Yang, Xiaoping, Schipper, Desmond, Hall, Justin W, DePue, Lauren J, Dieye, Yakhya, Vadivelu, Jamuna, Chandler, Don J, Marcotte, Edward M, Sessler, Jonathan L, Ehrlich, Lauren I. R, Brown, Katherine A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1359-6640; 1364-5498
• DOI: 10.1039/c4fd00117f

We are developing a new class of lanthanide-based self-assembling molecular nanoparticles as potential reporter molecules for imaging, and as multi-functional nanoprobes or nanosensors in diagnostic systems. These lanthanide "nano-drums" are homogeneous 4d-4f clusters approximately 25 to 30 Å in diameter that can emit from the visible to near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. Here, we present syntheses, crystal structures, photophysical properties, and comparative cytotoxicity data for six nano-drums containing either Eu, Tb, Lu, Er, Yb or Ho. Imaging capabilities of these nano-drums are demonstrated using epifluorescence, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF), and two-photon microscopy. We discuss how these molecular nanoparticles can to be adapted for a range of assays, particularly by taking advantage of functionalization strategies with chemical moieties to enable conjugation to protein or nucleic acids.