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Folic acid-conjugated chromium(III) doped nanoparticles consisting of mixed oxides of zinc, gallium and tin, and possessing near-infrared and long persistent phosphorescence for targeted imaging of cancer cells

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Abstract

Folic acid-conjugated luminescent nanomaterials have long been widely used in targeted bioimaging, often simultaneously acting as vehicles for drug delivery. They often require, however, intense light sources for photoexcitation, and this often results in photobleaching, strong luminescence background, and strong light scattering. This article describes the preparation of nanoparticles (NPs) of the type Zn1.1Ga1.8Sn0.1O4 doped with Cr(III) ions and surface-modified with folic acid. The functionalization of the NPs was monitored via measurement of zeta potentials, FTIR spectra and thermogravimetry. Cell viability and biocompatibility were tested using the MTT kit. The NPs have a size of 220 nm and were characterized by dynamic X-ray diffraction, light scattering, field emission scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. After annealing the NPs for 10 min at 300 °C and irradiating them with 254 nm light for 10 min, they display deep red emission that persists for up to 10 h. The NPs are easily dispersed, small-sized, and crystalline. In our perception, the new material with its long decay time offers quite novel features in terms of targeted optical imaging in providing high resolution, weak disturbance by background luminescence, and the absence of light scattering. They were successfully applied to image MCF-7 and A549 cells.

Folic acid-conjugated nanoparticles of the type Zn1.1Ga1.8Sn0.1O4:Cr3+ are presented that are easily dispersible, small-sized (100 nm), and well crystallized. They display a phosphorescence in the NIR that persists for >10 h after excitation and were used to image MCF-7 and A549 cells.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51132004, 51322208, 51102096, 51302087), Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (Grant Nos. S2011030001349, S20120011380, S2013050014549), National Basic Research Program of China (2011CB808102).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Yang Li, Ruchun Chen, Shijian Liu, Dakun Wu, Yiling Wu, Xixi Qin & Jianrong Qiu

  2. Henry Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-2575, USA

    Yiyang Li

  3. Escola de Engenharia de Sao Carlos, Universidade de Sao Paulo, 13566-590, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil

    Kaniyarakkal Sharafudeen

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  1. Yang Li
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  2. Ruchun Chen
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  4. Kaniyarakkal Sharafudeen
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  9. Jianrong Qiu
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Correspondence to Jianrong Qiu.

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Li, Y., Chen, R., Li, Y. et al. Folic acid-conjugated chromium(III) doped nanoparticles consisting of mixed oxides of zinc, gallium and tin, and possessing near-infrared and long persistent phosphorescence for targeted imaging of cancer cells. Microchim Acta 182, 1827–1834 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1486-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1486-8

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