Bright X-ray and up-conversion nanophosphors annealed using encapsulated sintering agents for bioimaging applications.

ABSTRACT: Nanophosphors are promising contrast agents for deep tissue optical imaging applications because they can be excited by X-ray and near infrared light that penetrates deeply through tissue and generates almost no autofluorescence background in the tissue. For these bioimaging applications, the nanophosophors should ideally be small, monodispersed and brightly luminescent. However, most methods used to improve luminescence yield by annealing the particles to reduce crystal and surface defects (e.g. using flux or sintering agents) also cause particle fusion or require multiple component core-shell structures. Here, we report a novel method to prepare bright, uniformly sized X-ray nanophosphors (Gd₂O₂S:Eu or Tb) and upconversion nanophosphors (Y₂O₂S:

SUBMITTER: Chen H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5826634 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature