Sub-20 nm Core-Shell-Shell Nanoparticles for Bright Upconversion and Enhanced Forster Resonant Energy Transfer.

ABSTRACT: Upconverting nanoparticles provide valuable benefits as optical probes for bioimaging and Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) due to their high signal-to-noise ratio, photostability, and biocompatibility; yet, making nanoparticles small yields a significant decay in brightness due to increased surface quenching. Approaches to improve the brightness of UCNPs exist but often require increased nanoparticle size. Here we present a unique core-shell-shell nanoparticle architecture for small (sub-20 nm), bright upconversion with several key features: (1) maximal sensitizer concentration in the core for high near-infrared absorption, (2) efficient energy transfer between core and interior shell for strong emission, and (3) emitter localization near the nanoparticle surface for efficient FRET.

SUBMITTER: Siefe C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8259630 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature