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Synthesis and properties of up-converted NaYF4: Er, Yb nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Bożena Sikora 1Krzysztof Fronc 1Sebastian Szewczyk 2Izabela Kamińska 1Anna Baranowska-Korczyc 1Kamil Koper 3,4Kamil Sobczak 1Bohdan Paterczyk 5Tomasz Wojciechowski 1Roman Minikayev 1Remigiusz Worch 1Wojciech Paszkowicz 1Piotr Stępień 3,4Danek Elbaum 1

1. Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-668, Poland
2. Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Physics (AMU), Umultowska 85, Poznań 61-614, Poland
3. Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Warsaw, Pawińskiego 5A, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
4. Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), Pawińskiego 5A, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
5. Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw 02-096, Poland

Abstract

   We synthesized potential biosensors, based on Er, Yb doped NaYF4 nanoparticles, with up-conversion of infrared light capable to emit in the visible and ultraviolet range. They could be potentially applied for targeted therapy in cancer, through up-conversion to the ultraviolet radiation. Biological systems excited by the near infrared energy exhibit less autofluorescence than if excited by the visible or the ultraviolet light. Visible emission permits to observe physiologically relevant processes within cells, and the emission of the ultraviolet light allows for the selective elimination of cancer cells by generating free radicals.
   We were able to synthesize NaYF4 nanoparticles doped with different amounts of rare earth ions, providing an efficient energy up-conversion. After functionalization by PVP or oleic acid, we were able to introduce these particles into HeLa cancer cells, where we examined their localization in the function of both, incubation time and particles concentration. We performed preliminary attempts to bio-functionalize nanoparticles for specific locations in the cancer cells.

Acknowledgements: The research was partially supported by the European Union within European Regional Development Fund, through grant Innovative Economy (POIG.01.01.02-00-008/08) and was partially supported by the grant from the Polish National Centre for Research and Development NR13004704 and Center of Excellence. This work has been done in the NanoFun laboratories co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund within the Innovation Economy Operational Programme, the Project No. POIG.02.02.00-00-025/09/.

 

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Presentation: Poster at Nano-Biotechnologia PL, by Bożena Sikora
See On-line Journal of Nano-Biotechnologia PL

Submitted: 2012-06-28 11:32
Revised:   2012-09-12 13:12