Recent Advance of Biological Molecular Imaging Based on Lanthanide-Doped Upconversion-Luminescent Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials

Yuanzeng Min¹  Jinming Li¹  Fang Liu¹  Parasuraman Padmanabhan²  Edwin K. L. Yeow¹ 

[1] Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore; E-Mails:;The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Drive, Research Techno Plaza, Singapore 637553, Singapore

关键词: upconversion nanoparticles;    molecular imaging;    luminescent nanomaterials;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nano4010129

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Lanthanide-doped upconversion-luminescent nanoparticles (UCNPs), which can be excited by near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation to emit multiplex light, have been proven to be very useful for in vitro and in vivo molecular imaging studies. In comparison with the conventionally used down-conversion fluorescence imaging strategies, the NIR light excited luminescence of UCNPs displays high photostability, low cytotoxicity, little background auto-fluorescence, which allows for deep tissue penetration, making them attractive as contrast agents for biomedical imaging applications. In this review, we will mainly focus on the latest development of a new type of lanthanide-doped UCNP material and its main applications for in vitro and in vivo molecular imaging and we will also discuss the challenges and future perspectives.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.