Highly colloidal luminescent Er3+, Yb3+-codoped KY3F10 nanoparticles for theranostic applications

Highly colloidal luminescent nanoparticles (NPs) 5 at% Er3+, 20 at% Yb3+:KY3F10 were prepared by EDTA assisted hydrothermal method. Spherical and monodispersed Er3+, Yb3+:KY3F10 nanoparticles with highly pure cubic phase exhibit attractive optical properties for their use in long-term biological studies because of the high chemical photo-stability and strong emissions in the visible and near infrared (NIR) regions. The luminescence spectra of Er3+, Yb3+:KY3F10 as dried powder and dispersed in physiologic medium show intense green upconversion emission transition in between 510 and 570 nm (2H11/2→4I15/2 and 4S3/2→4I15/2) and red upconversion emission transition in between 635 and 680 nm (4F9/2→4I15/2) under NIR light excitation (980 nm). The cellular nontoxicity of as-prepared Er3+, Yb3+ codoped KY3F10 to glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells, were reported for the first time to our knowledge. This nanomaterial shows potential use for theranostic applications in early detection of brain cancer, acting as biomarkers in the visible and NIR ranges, and as drug activators for some photobiological response as a coadjuvant therapy for cancer treatment, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT).