Ultrasmall and radiolabelled upconverting nanophosphors – ready for challenge of multimodal cancer imaging

The increasing interest in nanomaterials for medical applications is mainly attributed to their unique and structural properties. Based on different materials like polymers, inorganic or organic-inorganic hybrid substances such nanomaterials are investigated for applications in biological systems. Regarding this upconverting nanophosphors exhibit a high potential because of their bright luminescence. With their exceptional characteristic to convert near infrared to visible light (upconversion) these inorganic lanthanide-doped nanoparticles are very attractive as probes for optical imaging with the possibiliy for elucidation of even cellular processes[1]. In addition the surface of the nanoparticles offer the chance for rather multiple functionalisation such as radiometall chelates for PET and SPECT as well as for tumor affine units (peptides, aptamers, antibodies).
We want to present the synthesis and photophysical properties of ultrasmall (<10 nm) upconverting nanophosphors based on a host lattice of NaYF4: (Nd3+),Yb3+, Er3+/Tm3+ which are excited at 800 nm or 980 nm. To generate watersoluble biocompatible nanoparticles the material was coated with different polymers and afterwards functionalized with DMPTACN, a picolyl derivative of the macrocyclic ligand 1,4,7-triazacyclononane. An initial point for further investigations in vitro and in vivo was achieved by radiolabelling with the positron emitter Cu-64.

References
1. Cheng, L. , Wang, C. , Liu, Z. Nanoscale. 2013, 5, 23-37.

Acknowledgements: This work was funded by the Helmholtz Initiative and Networking Fund „Functional nanomaterials for multimodality cancer imaging“ (NanoTracking, project ID: VH-VI-421).