@article { ISI:000365203000020, title = {Doxorubicin-conjugated beta-NaYF4:Gd3+/Tb3+ multifunctional, phosphor nanorods: a multimodal, luminescent, magnetic probe for simultaneous optical and magnetic resonance imaging and an excellent pH-triggered anti-cancer drug delivery nanovehicle}, journal = {Nanoscale}, volume = {7}, number = {46}, year = {2015}, month = {OCT}, pages = {19501-19518}, publisher = {ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY}, address = {THOMAS GRAHAM HOUSE, SCIENCE PARK, MILTON RD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 0WF, CAMBS, ENGLAND}, abstract = {

Herein, we report the fabrication of a multifunctional nanoprobe based on highly monodispersed, optically and magnetically active, biocompatible, PEI-functionalized, highly crystalline beta-NaYF4:Gd3+/Tb3+ nanorods as an excellent multi-modal optical/magnetic imaging tool and a pH-triggered intracellular drug delivery nanovehicle. The static and dynamic photoluminescence spectroscopy showed the presence of sharp emission peaks, with long lifetimes (similar to 3.5 milliseconds), suitable for optical imaging. The static magnetic susceptibility measurements at room temperature showed a strong paramagnetic signal (chi similar to 3.8 x 10(-5) emu g(-1) Oe(-1)). The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements showed fair T-1 relaxivity (r(1) = 1.14 s(-1) mM(-1)) and magnetic resonance imaging gave enhanced T-1-weighted MRI images with increased concentrations of beta-NaYF4:Gd3+/Tb3+ making them suitable for simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, an anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX) was conjugated to the amine-functionalized beta-NaYF4:Gd3+/Tb3+ nanorods via pH-sensitive hydrazone bond linkages enabling them as a pH-triggered, site-specific drug delivery nanovehicle for DOX release inside tumor cells. A comparison between in vitro DOX release studies undertaken in normal physiological (pH 7.4) and acidic (pH 5.0) environments showed an enhanced DOX dissociation (similar to 80\%) at pH 5.0. The multifunctional material was also applied as an optical probe to confirm the conjugation of DOX and to monitor DOX release via a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) mechanism. The DOX-conjugated beta-NaYF4:Gd3+/Tb3+ nanorods exhibited a cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 breast cancer cells and their uptake by MCF-7 cells was demonstrated using confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry. The comparative cellular uptakes of free DOX and DOX-conjugated beta-NaYF4:Gd3+/Tb3+ nanorods were studied in tumor microenvironment conditions (pH 6.5) using confocal imaging, which showed an increased uptake of DOX-conjugated beta-NaYF4:Gd3+/Tb3+ nanorods. Thus, DOX-conjugated beta-NaYF4:Get(3+)/Tb3+ nanorods combining pH-triggered drug delivery, efficient luminescence and paramagnetic properties are promising for a potential multifunctional platform for cancer therapy, biodetection, and optical and magnetic resonance imaging.

}, issn = {2040-3364}, doi = {10.1039/c5nr04473a}, author = {Padhye, Preeti and Alam, Aftab and Ghorai, Suvankar and Chattopadhyay, Sarnit and Poddar, Pankaj} } @article {46221, title = { Downconversion luminescence-based nanosensor for label-free detection of explosives }, journal = {Acs Omega}, volume = {4}, year = {2019}, month = {FEB}, pages = {4259-4268}, type = {Article}, abstract = {

We report a selective and sensitive nanosensor probe based on polyethylenimine (PEI)-capped downconverting nanophosphors beta-NaYF4:Gd3+, Tb3+@PEI for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), both in water and buffer media. These downconverting phosphors were synthesized via a hydrothermal route and are known to show excellent chemical, thermal, and photostability. They emit sharp emission peaks centered at similar to 488, 544, 584, and 619 nm, among which the peak at similar to 544 nm was remarkably quenched (similar to 90\%) by the addition of TNT without giving any new emission peak. The sensing mechanism is based on the formation of a Meisenheimer complex between the electron-rich amine-functionalized beta-NaYF4:Gd3+, Tb3+ nanophosphors and electron-deficient TNT molecule, which was prominently visualized by the change in the color of the solution from whitish to brownish yellow, enabling visual detection, followed by luminescence resonance energy transfer between the nanophosphors and the complex. A linear range for TNT detection was obtained from 0.1 to 300 mu M with a limit of detection as low as 119.9 nM. This method displayed excellent selectivity toward TNT over other nitroaromatic compounds, which had no influence on the detection. Moreover, various other classes of analytes, viz., amino acids, pesticides, and sugars, did not quench the luminescence intensity of the nanophosphors. This developed nanosensor probe possesses high, stable fluorescence brightness and capability for the selective and sensitive on-site recognition of TNT molecules in aqueous media, avoiding complicated strategies and instruments. Thus, this work promises to pave ways to many applications in the detection of ultratrace analytes.

}, doi = {10.1021/acsomega.8b03491}, author = {Malik, Monika and Padhye, Preeti and Poddar, Pankaj} }