Green EmittingCe(3+)/ Tb3+-Doped BaF(2)Nanocrystals and Their Impact on Skeletal Muscle of Developing Zebrafish Larvae

An ionic liquid (IL)-based solvothermal method is employed to prepare single-phase, luminescent, cubic rare-earth doped and silica-coated BaF(2)nanomaterials. High energy transfer efficiency (similar to 60%) from Ce(3+)to Tb(3+)for BaF2:Ce3+/Tb(3+)nanoparticles dispersed in DMSO solution is observed. Furthermore, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, as-prepared RE ion/s doped and silica-coated BaF(2)nanoparticles are used for the toxicological assessment on live zebrafish larvae. Interestingly, static exposure of these nanoparticles from 6 hpf till 96 hpf period at high concentration (70 mg/L) do not show any developmental anomalies as judged by bright-field and birefringence optical imaging method which promises its large-scale applications in imaging and other biological purposes.However, as a positive control, cypermethrin-based pesticide could induce developmental defects at 0.1 mg/L concentration. It is worth mentioning that the concentration of BaF(2)nanoparticles chosen in present study is much higher than the other nanoparticles reported so far.