Non-Aqueous Sol-Gel Synthesis of Ultra Small Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticles for Near-Infrared In Vivo Imaging

Eliott Teston (1) , Sophie Richard (2) , Thomas Maldiney (1) , Nicole Lievre (3) , Guillaume Yangshu Wang (4) , Laurence Motte (2) , Cyrille Richard (2) , Yoann Lalatonne (2)

1 UTCBS - UM 4 (UMR 8258 / U1022) - Unité de Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé
2 CSPBAT - Chimie, Structures et Propriétés de Biomatériaux et d'Agents Thérapeutiques
3 UPRES EA 3410
4 MPQ (UMR_7162) - Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques

Ultra-small ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ nanoparticles (6 nm) that exhibit near-infrared (NIR) persistent luminescence properties are synthesized by using a non-aqueous sol-gel method assisted by microwave irradiation. The nanoparticles are pegylated, leading to highly stable dispersions under physiological conditions. Preliminary in vivo studies show the high potential for these ultra-small ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ nanoparticles to be used as in vivo optical nanotools as they emit without the need for in situ excitation and, thus, avoid the autofluorescence of tissues.

Keywords: IRON-OXIDE NANOPARTICLES; CONTRAST AGENTS; LIVING CELLS; RED; NANOCRYSTALS; FUNCTIONALIZATION; NANOPROBE; CHEMISTRY; BEHAVIOR; LIGHT

Domains: Engineering Sciences [physics]; Materials; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Bioengineering; Imaging

Eliott Teston, Sophie Richard, Thomas Maldiney, Nicole Lievre, Guillaume Yangshu Wang, et al.. Non-Aqueous Sol-Gel Synthesis of Ultra Small Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticles for Near-Infrared In Vivo Imaging. Chemistry - A European Journal, 2015, 21 (20), pp.7350-7354. ⟨10.1002/chem.201406599⟩. ⟨hal-03290588⟩