Optimising passivation shell thickness of single upconversion nanoparticles using a time-resolved spectrometer
Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are the most efficient multi-photon probe that can be used for deep tissue bio-imaging, fluorescence microscopy, and single molecule sensing applications. Passivating UCNPs with inert shell has been demonstrated to be an effective method to signifi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AIP Publishing LLC
2019-02-01
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| Series: | APL Photonics |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5053608 |
| _version_ | 1818880560835067904 |
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| author | Xiaoxue Xu Zhiguang Zhou Yongtao Liu Shihui Wen Zhiyong Guo Laixu Gao Fan Wang |
| author_facet | Xiaoxue Xu Zhiguang Zhou Yongtao Liu Shihui Wen Zhiyong Guo Laixu Gao Fan Wang |
| author_sort | Xiaoxue Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are the most efficient multi-photon probe that can be used for deep tissue bio-imaging, fluorescence microscopy, and single molecule sensing applications. Passivating UCNPs with inert shell has been demonstrated to be an effective method to significantly enhance their brightness. However, this method also increases the overall size of the nanoparticles, which limited their cellular applications. Current reports to optimise the thickness of the shell are based on the spectrum measurement of ensembles of UCNPs, which are less quantitative. The characterisation of single UCNPs would be desirable, but is limited by the sensitivity of conventional spectrometers. We developed an optical filter-based spectrometer coupled to a laser scanning microscopy system and achieved a high degree of sensitivity—seven times more than the traditional amount. Through highly controlled syntheses of a range Yb3+ and Tm3+ doped UCNPs with different shell thickness, quantitative characterization of the emission intensity and lifetime on single UCNPs were comprehensively studied using a home-made optical system. We found that the optimal shell thickness was 6.3 nm. We further demonstrated that the system was sensitive enough to measure the time-resolved spectrum from a single UCNP, which is significantly useful for a comprehensive study of the energy transfer process of UCNPs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T14:47:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f416a553d628498b9f88a95eb9b56033 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2378-0967 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T14:47:55Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | AIP Publishing LLC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | APL Photonics |
| spelling | doaj.art-f416a553d628498b9f88a95eb9b560332022-12-21T20:16:54ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Photonics2378-09672019-02-0142026104026104-810.1063/1.5053608005902APPOptimising passivation shell thickness of single upconversion nanoparticles using a time-resolved spectrometerXiaoxue Xu0Zhiguang Zhou1Yongtao Liu2Shihui Wen3Zhiyong Guo4Laixu Gao5Fan Wang6Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD), Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaInstitute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD), Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaInstitute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD), Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaInstitute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD), Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaInstitute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD), Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaInstitute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD), Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaInstitute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD), Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, AustraliaLanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are the most efficient multi-photon probe that can be used for deep tissue bio-imaging, fluorescence microscopy, and single molecule sensing applications. Passivating UCNPs with inert shell has been demonstrated to be an effective method to significantly enhance their brightness. However, this method also increases the overall size of the nanoparticles, which limited their cellular applications. Current reports to optimise the thickness of the shell are based on the spectrum measurement of ensembles of UCNPs, which are less quantitative. The characterisation of single UCNPs would be desirable, but is limited by the sensitivity of conventional spectrometers. We developed an optical filter-based spectrometer coupled to a laser scanning microscopy system and achieved a high degree of sensitivity—seven times more than the traditional amount. Through highly controlled syntheses of a range Yb3+ and Tm3+ doped UCNPs with different shell thickness, quantitative characterization of the emission intensity and lifetime on single UCNPs were comprehensively studied using a home-made optical system. We found that the optimal shell thickness was 6.3 nm. We further demonstrated that the system was sensitive enough to measure the time-resolved spectrum from a single UCNP, which is significantly useful for a comprehensive study of the energy transfer process of UCNPs.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5053608 |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoxue Xu Zhiguang Zhou Yongtao Liu Shihui Wen Zhiyong Guo Laixu Gao Fan Wang Optimising passivation shell thickness of single upconversion nanoparticles using a time-resolved spectrometer APL Photonics |
| title | Optimising passivation shell thickness of single upconversion nanoparticles using a time-resolved spectrometer |
| title_full | Optimising passivation shell thickness of single upconversion nanoparticles using a time-resolved spectrometer |
| title_fullStr | Optimising passivation shell thickness of single upconversion nanoparticles using a time-resolved spectrometer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimising passivation shell thickness of single upconversion nanoparticles using a time-resolved spectrometer |
| title_short | Optimising passivation shell thickness of single upconversion nanoparticles using a time-resolved spectrometer |
| title_sort | optimising passivation shell thickness of single upconversion nanoparticles using a time resolved spectrometer |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5053608 |
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