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Theranostics 2013; 3(5):292-305. doi:10.7150/thno.5289 This issue Cite

Review

Multifunctional Upconversion-Magnetic Hybrid Nanostructured Materials: Synthesis and Bioapplications

Xiaomin Li, Dongyuan Zhao, Fan Zhang

Department of Chemistry and Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

✉ Corresponding author: Email: zhang_fanedu.cn

Abstract

The combination of nanotechnology and biology has developed into an emerging research area: nano-biotechnology. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have attracted a great deal of attention in bioapplications due to their high chemical stability, low toxicity, and high signal-to-noise ratio. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are also well-established nanomaterials that offer controlled size, ability to be manipulated externally, and enhancement of contrast in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As a result, these nanoparticles could have many applications in biology and medicine, including protein purification, drug delivery, and medical imaging. Because of the potential benefits of multimodal functionality in biomedical applications, researchers would like to design and fabricate multifunctional upconversion-magnetic hybrid nanostructured materials. The hybrid nanostructures, which combine UCNPs with MNPs, exhibit upconversion fluorescence alongside superparamagnetism property. Such structures could provide a platform for enhanced bioimaging and controlled drug delivery. We expect that the combination of unique structural characteristics and integrated functions of multifunctional upconversion-magnetic nanoparticles will attract increasing research interest and could lead to new opportunities in nano-bioapplications.

Keywords: Upconversion nanoparticles, Magnetic nanoparticles

1. Introduction

Photon upconversion (UC) is capable of absorbing near infrared (NIR) radiation, and emission radiation of UV or visible light. The UC process proceeds by different mechanisms, which are summarized and discussed in detail in several review articles [1-5] and can be roughly divided into three classes: energy transfer upconversion (ETU) [6], excited-state absorption (ESA), and photon avalanche (PA) [7]. In past few years, UC fluorescent materials have attracted a great deal of attention due to their attractive merits involving narrow emission peaks, large anti-stokes shifts, and low toxicity [8-18]. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), which are able to emit visible or UV photons under excitation by near-infrared light, have been found many potential applications in different fields, such as solid-state lasers, three-dimensional flat-panel displays, solar cells, and especially bio-labels and bio-imaging. Compared with traditional fluorescence imaging using organic dyes or quantum dots, the NIR-light-excited UC luminescence imaging relying on lanthanide-doped rare-earth UCNPs exhibits improved tissue penetration depth, higher photochemical stability, and free of auto-fluorescence [8-18]. According to the selection of the host materials, the UC materials can be classified into two parts, one kind is based on metal oxide materials (LuPO₄, YVO₄, Y₂O₃ etc.), the other kind is based on fluorides [LnF₃, M(RE)F₄ (M=Li, Na, K; RE=Rare Earth) etc.]. So far, a variety of chemical techniques, have been developed to synthesize lanthanide-doped UC nanocrystals [19-30], such as co-precipitation method, thermal decomposition, hydrothermal (solvothermal) synthesis, sol-gel processing and combustion synthesis, and so on. As a new generation luminescent materials, rare-earth UCNPs have been considered to be an excellent luminescent probes for bio-imaging, which include tumor-targeted imaging, lymphatic imaging, vascular imaging, cell tracking and so on.

In the past two decades, the synthetic iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and related nanoparticles have played an important role in many bio-application fields [31-37]. Some forms of these nanoparticles are now clinically used for improving magnetic resonance (MR) contrast and have also been used in magnetic targeting drugs delivery system. Furthermore, the rapid development in the synthetic methods for preparing MNPs have allowed researchers to synthetically control the important features of these probes, such as size, magnetic dopants, magneto-crystalline phases, and surface states, resulting in the discovery of “designed” MNPs. These innovative nanoparticle probes exhibit superior magnetism and MR contrast effects which have been shown to be better than that of conventional MR contrast agents [38-41]. According to the composition of the MNPs, they can be are classified into three major types: single metal oxide (iron oxide, manganese oxide, cobalt oxide etc.), dopant MNPs [MFe₂O₄, M = Mn, Ni, Co], metal-Alloy (FeCo, FePt, etc.). MNPs High-quality synthetic MNPs are typically prepared through the thermal decomposition of metal-complex precursors in hot non-hydrolytic organic solution containing surfactants. Thermal decomposition of the precursors generates monomers and their aggregation above a supersaturation level induces nucleation and subsequent nanoparticles growth [42-50]. During these stages, by tuning growth parameters, such as monomer concentration, crystalline phase of the nuclei, choice of solvent and surfactants, growth temperature and time, and surface energy, it is possible to control the size, composition, and magneto-crystalline phase of MNPs.

The rapid development in nanotechnology has allowed the engineering of various functional nanomaterials with multiple discrete function-related components integrated in one nanoparticle for applications in multimodality bio-applications to circumvent the limitations of each single mode application. Conventional chemotherapy is commonly used in the clinical management of many cancers, often with severe side effects due to the cytotoxicity of the agents and the genetic heterogeneity of the tumors, that is, their phenotypic drug sensitivity or resistivity [51]. Nano-engineered drug-delivery systems could improve the clinical performance of conventional chemotherapeutic agents and reduce overall toxicity by enhancing the specificity of the drug's delivery through tumor targeting and making elevated local dosages possible [52-54]. A major goal in nano-medicine is the coherent implementation of multifunctional platforms within a single targeted nano-delivery system that would simultaneously perform diagnosis, targeted delivery and efficient therapy (theranostics) [55-60]. Along these lines, luminescent and magnetic nanoparticles have been used as bio-labeling, contrast agents, and for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and targeted drug delivery, leading recently to major advances in bio-applications [55-60]. Until recently, the multifunctional luminescent-magnetic materials have been based on quantum dots, organic molecules, and polymers [55-57]. The biological applications of these down-conversion luminescent materials have at times been restricted due to their limited tissue-penetration depth, low signal-to-background ratio given the significant auto-fluorescence from biological tissues, in some cases by chemical instability, and by uncertain toxicity [61]. An alternative that avoids some of these limitations is near-infrared to UV-vis UCNPs. Here the luminescent materials emit visible light upon NIR-light excitation making them superior bio-imaging agents than systems employing down-conversion luminescent materials. While not wholly free from tissue-penetration limits, UC materials absorbing at NIR wavelengths greatly improve penetration depth relative to down-conversion materials, thereby also decreasing photo-damage to tissue especially at high light fluxes. UC materials also typically exhibit high photo and chemical stability allowing long integration times to be used and increasing signal-to-noise due to an essentially dark UC background [62-65]. On the other hand, to benefit from its magnetic properties, the magnetic materials can serve as agent of the MRI and targeted drug delivery. So, with the upconversion-magnetic hybrid nanostructured materials, we will certainly accomplish multimodality bio-applications to circumvent the limitations of each single mode application.

In this review, we describe some potentially useful designs and applications of multifunctional upconversion luminescent-magnetic nanoparticles for bio-applications, which have been attracting increased research effort because of their easily accessible multimodality. The integration of UCNPs and MNPs forms multi-functional structures with both fluorescent and magnetic properties, which lead to the demonstration of intracellular manipulation of nanoparticles and a promising candidate for dual-functional molecular imaging (i.e. combining MRI and fluorescence imaging). Furthermore, the multi-functional nanomaterials emit visible luminescence upon NIR excitation can be manipulated using an external magnetic field, for example, as a contrast agent for a specific target, making them attractive for a variety of biological applications. For example, we can use them in as vitro drug release assays and in vivo anti-tumor agents.

2. Synthesis and Properties of the Multifunctional Upconversion-Magnetic Nanoparticles

Generally, there are three kinds of strategies to fabricate multifunctional upconversion-magnetic nanoparticles. The first strategy is SiO₂ assisted synthesis of the upconversion-magnetic multifunctional nanoparticles [66-70]. The second approach is based on combining UCNPs and magnetic nanocrystals assisted by cross-linker [71-74]. The third way is based on the seed-mediated growth method [75-77].

2.1 SiO₂ assisted synthesis of upconversion-magnetic multifunctional nanoparticles

Silanization is a popular technique for surface modification of nanoparticles since silica is highly biocompatible, ease of surface modification, which would allow for biolabeling, drug targeting, and delivery. Furthermore, the SiO₂-coated functional nanoparticles can be protected by the SiO₂ shell to against the influence of physiological condition and outside environments, which will show more stable properties. So, with assistance of the advantages of the SiO₂, SiO₂ assisted method is considered to be one of the most effective route to synthesize the upconversion-magnetic multifunctional nanoparticles.

Most recently, Zhang and co-workers fabricated nanorattles consisting of hydrophilic rare-earth doped NaYF₄ shells each containing a loose magnetic nanoparticle through an ion-exchange process (Figure 1) [66]. The inner magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are coated with a SiO₂ layer to avoid iron leaching in acidic biological environments. This multi-functional mesoporous nanostructure with both UC luminescent and magnetic properties has excellent water dispersibility and a high drug-loading capacity. As shown in Figure 2, The Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized from monodispersed ∼20 nm diameter Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals as a core, using a reverse-microemulsion method. The Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ nanospheres are then coated with a layer of Y/Yb, Er(OH)CO₃.H₂O via a homogeneous precipitation method. Thermal treatment at high temperature transformed the amorphous Y/Yb, Er(OH)CO₃.H₂O into the cubic phase of Y₂O₃. The Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@α-NaYF₄/Yb,Er magnetic upconversion fluoride nanorattles (MUC-F-NR) are formed via ion-exchange of MUC-O-NS in the presence of HF and NaF solution. Finally, mesoporous multifunctional UC luminescent and magnetic “nanorattle” was obtained. The nanorattles emit visible luminescence upon NIR excitation and have very good superparamagnetic property, making it an attractive system for a variety of biological applications. Furthermore, the BET surface area and the pore size are calculated to be ∼73 m²/g and 4.8 nm, which offers possibilities for further magnetic targeted drug delivery. This method could also extend to the synthesis of core/shell Fe₃O₄@NaLuF₄:Yb,Er/Tm nanostructure.

Hu et al. presents a facile method for the fabrication of core-shell-structured NaYF₄:Yb,Er/Tm@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Figure 2) [70]. In this approach, when the EDTA-capped NaYF₄:Yb,Er/Tm nanoparticles were mixed with the oleic acid-modified magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in isopropyl alcohol, followed by addition of TEOS and ammonium hydroxide, core shell NaYF₄:Yb,Er/Tm@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were directly yielded; neither surface modification nor high temperature was needed. The obtained nanoparticles have very good superparamagnetic and luminescent properties.

Liu et al. have also reported a new type of monodisperse core/shell nanoparticles with both UC fluorescent nanocrystals and superparamagnetic (SPM) nanocrystals encapsulated in silica shells (SiO₂/UC-SPM) (Figure 3) [68]. The obtained composite nanoparticles are capable of emitting pure eye-visible fluorescence upon NIR excitation and being driven by an external magnetic field to a specific target, which make them attractive for a variety of biomedical applications, such as bioimaging, drug targeting and bio-separation. The synthesis method is based on the simple and more convenient one pot reverse-microemulsion method. However, owing to the lack of the mesoporous, it is limited in practical drug delivery system.

 Figure 1 

(A) Synthetic procedure for the drug-loaded Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@α-NaYF₄/Yb,Er nanorattles (DOX-MUC-F-NR). (B) TEM and SEM images of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ nanospheres. (C) TEM image of MUC-O-NS; inset is an HRTEM image after growing the outer Y₂O₃/Yb,Er layer. (D) TEM image of the MUC-F-NR; insets are higher-magnification TEM image of one (upper left) and the SAED image recorded on part of the α-NaYF4/Yb,Er shell (lower left). (E) TEM image of Fe₃O₄@α-NaYF₄/Yb,Er with SiO₂ fully etched; inset is a higher-magnification TEM image of a single hollow nanosphere. (F) N₂ adsorptiondesorption isotherms and pore diameter distribution of MUC-F-NR. (G) The magnetization of MUC-F-NR measured at 5 and 300 K; inset in lower right is the temperature dependence of ZFC and FC magnetization curve for the MUC-F-NR; inset in upper left shows that MUC-F-NR can be physically attracted by the applied magnetic field at room temperature in water. (H) UC spectra of MUC-F-NR (i) and MUC-O-NS (ii) upon excitation at 980 nm. This figure is reprinted from [66]. Copyright 2012 American Chemical Society.

 Figure 2 

a) Bright-field TEM image and b-d) EDX elemental mappings of NaYF₄:Yb,Er@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄, e) HRTEM image of NaYF₄:Yb,Er@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ (inset: SAED image of NaYF₄:Yb,Er) and f) HRTEM image of Fe₃O₄ (inset: FFT image of Fe₃O₄). g) Schematic illustration of the formation of NaYF₄:Yb,Er/Tm@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. h) The magnetic hysteresis loops for pure Fe₃O₄ and NaYF₄:Yb,Er@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄. i) The separation process of the NaYF₄:Yb,Er@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite particles by a magnet. j, k) Room-temperature UC luminescent spectra of NaYF₄:Yb,Er@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and NaYF₄:Yb,Tm@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles excited by 980 nm IR light. This figure is reprinted from [70]. Copyright 2011, Royal Society of Chemistry.

 Figure 3 

FE-SEM (a), TEM (b) and HRTEM (c) images of silica nanoparticles encapsulating UCNPs and SPM nanocrystals. (d) Room-temperature upconversion fluorescence spectra of SiO₂/UCNPs-SPM nanoparticles under 980 nm NIR excitation. (e) Magnetic measurements of SiO₂/UCNPs-SPM nanoparticles showing magnetization-applied magnetic field (M-H). The inset in is a magnified view of the magnetization curves at low applied fields. (f, g) Photograph of the upconversion fluorescence (green) of SiO₂/UCNPs-SPM nanoparticles in aqueous solutions and driven by an external magnet. This figure is reprinted from [68]. Copyright 2008, Royal Society of Chemistry.

2.2 Cross-linker assisted synthesis of upconversion-magnetic multifunctional nanoparticles

In addition to the SiO₂ assisted synthesis method, cross-linker assisted method has also been developed [71-74]. Cheng et al. describe a novel class of multifunctional nanoparticles (MFNPs) based on UCNPs with combined optical and magnetic properties [71]. The MFNPs were prepared by layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly (Figure 4). Ultra small superparamagnetic dopamine (DA) modified iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (IONPs) are adsorbed on the surface of Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) modified NaYF₄-based UCNP by electrostatic attraction to form a UCNP-IONP complex, on top of which a thin gold shell is formed by seed-induced reduction growth. The layer of IONPs between UCNPs and the Au shell not only affords MFNPs magnetic properties but also significantly reduces the luminescence quenching effects of the gold nanostructure to UCNPs. The primary force between the poly(acrylic acid) modified UCNPs and dopamine modified magnetic particles is from the condensation reaction between the carboxyl and amino group.

Shen and co-workers reported the Fe₃O₄/NaYF₄:Yb,Er hetero-NPs synthesized by a novel ligand anchoring strategy (Figure 5) [72]. Fe₃O₄ NPs are localized at the surface of UC NPs assisted by cross linkers. Compared with other chemical linkage methods for hybrid nano-structures, this cross linker anchoring strategy comprises the ligand exchange process, crystallization of Fe₃O₄ NPs and integration into hetero-NPs in a sequential one-pot reaction. The process is facile and effective for construction of hetero-NPs in a solvo-thermal system. This approach is not limited by lattice mismatch for different functional components, and is applicable to QDs and noble metal NPs, etc. The hetero-NPs well preserve the UC luminescence and room-temperature superparamagnetism, which enables both effective optical detection and magnetic trapping. They could be fabricated into luminescent micro-patterns with magnetic manipulation.

Xu et al. demonstrate a facile synthetic method to prepare a novel nanocomposite for multi-model imaging and imaging combined drug delivery (Figure 6) [74]. They can encapsulate hydrophobic UCNPs together with iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles by using an amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(styrene-block-allylalcohol) (PS₁₆-b-PAA₁₀), via a microemulsion method, obtaining an UC-IO@Polymer multi-functional nanocomposite system. By further introducing a fluorescent Squaraine (SQ) dye during sample preparation, the obtained UC-IO@Polymer-SQ could be used for triple-modal UC luminescence/down-conversion FL/MR imaging in vitro and in vivo.

2.3 Seed-mediated growth method for the synthesis of upconversion-magnetic multifunctional nanoparticles

When considering seed-mediated growth, the energetics of the reaction plays an important role. The energy barrier for the homogeneous nucleation of a material is typically quite large; it is rare in nanoparticles systems that particles will spontaneously nucleate and grow in solution without a driving force such as a supersaturated solution, a strong reducing agent, or the use of high temperatures to overcome the energy barrier toward nucleation. Attempts to synthesize hybrid nanoparticles make use of this energy barrier, or perhaps more accurately the lower energy barrier for the heterogeneous nucleation of a second phase onto a seed particle. In comparison with the methods mentioned above, the seed-mediated growth method should be simpler, and show more stable hybrid nanostructure than the cross-linker assisted and SiO₂ assisted method. On the other hand, the size of the obtained core/shell hybrid nanostructure can be easily controlled below 100 nm or smaller, which will increase the biocompatibility of the materials. So we can extend this seed-mediated growth method to the synthesis of the upconversion-magnetic multifunctional nanoparticles [75-77].

Xia et al. synthesized new core/shell structured NaYF4:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺@Fe_xO_y nanoparticles, with 20 nm Yb³⁺, Tm³⁺ co-doped NaYF₄ nanoparticles as a core and 5 nm Fe_xO_y nanoparticles as a shell [75]. These core/shell nanoparticles exhibit excellent near-infrared UC luminescence emission at 800 nm under excitation by a continuous-wave 980 nm laser and superparamagnetic properties with a saturation magnetization of ~ 12 emu/g (Figure 7).

Similarly, Zhong and co-works introduced a core-shell structured NPs composed of magnetite core and up-conversion luminescent shell by using the seed-mediated growth method (Figure 8) [76]. Each of the components in the nanocomposites displays a unique function. Fe₃O₄ as the core endows nanoparticles with magnetic property, and the outer NaGdF₄:Yb/Er shell is to improve the luminescent efficiency. Although the composite obtained by using seed-mediated growth method gain the properties of both UC luminescence and magnetic properties, but to date, core/shell structures based on UC and magnetic nanoparticles have not been certified form direct measurements. So, more direct evidences should be provided on the characterizations of the obtained upconversion-magnetic multifunctional materials synthesized by this method in the future.

 Figure 4 

a) Strategy for MFNP synthesis and functionalization. b-d) SEM images of the UCNPs (b), UCNP-IONP nanocomposites (c), and UCNP-IONP-Au MFNPs (d). e-g) TEM images of UCNPs (e), the inset shows the HRTEM image of a MFNP and the indicated d spacing is 0.52 nm; UCNP-IONP nanocomposites (f); and MFNPs (g). h) A TEM image of a single MFNP with high magnification. Inset is a HRTEM image showing the edge of this MFNP. i) EDS of the MFNPs under the STEM pattern. j, k) A STEM image of a single MFNP (k) and the cross sectional compositional line profile (j). l-o) HAADF-STEM-EDS mapping images of an MFNP showing the yttrium K edge (l, yellow), yttrium L edge (m, green), iron K edge (n, orange), and gold K edge (o, blue). p) Photos of a PEG-coated MFNP sample in an aqueous solution under ambient light (left), exposed to a 980 nm laser (middle), and with a neighboring magnet (right). q) UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectra of MFNP nanocomposites prepared by adding different volumes of gold growth solutions. r) The corresponding UC luminescence spectra. s) Magnetization versus magnetic field plots for MFNPs, UCNP-IONP composite, and IONPs at room temperature. t) The T2 relaxation rates (r2) of PEG-MFNPs at different Fe concentrations. This figure is reprinted from [71]. Copyright 2011, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.

 Figure 5 

(A) Cross linker anchoring strategy for bi-functional Fe₃O₄/NaYF₄:Yb,Er hetero-NPs. (B-E) TEM and HRTEM images of Fe₃O₄/NaYF₄:Yb,Er hetero-NPs prepared with DDA (B, C) and MUA (D, E). (F-I) UC luminescent spectra (F) and field-dependent magnetization loops (G) of Fe₃O₄/NaYF₄:Yb,Er hetero-NPs (inset, the magnified view of low field region), and ZFC/FC magnetization curves of hetero-NPs synthesized with DDA (H) and MUA (I), respectively. (G) Water-soluble Fe₃O₄/NaYF₄:Yb,Er hetero-NPs after the ozonolysis treatment of surface OA ligands, and magnetic trapping of the NPs in water. (K) Scheme for magnetic patterning of the hydrophilic hetero-NPs. (L) The UC luminescent image of the pattern. This figure is reprinted from [72]. Copyright 2010, Royal Society of Chemistry.

 Figure 6 

(a) A schematic illustration for UC-IO@Polymer nanocomposite synthesis and applications. (b) A representative SEM image of UC-IO@Polymer. The average particle size was around 200 nm (c) A TEM image of UC-IO@Polymer. (d-g) EDX mapping of the UC-IO@Polymer nanocomposite. (d) A high-angle annular dark-field scanning TEM (HAADF-STEM) image of a single UC-IO@Polymer nanoparticle. The area within the red rectangle was selected for EDS mapping. (e-g) HAADF-STEM-EDS mapping images of UC-IO@Polymer showing the yttrium L edge (e, green), iron K edge (f, red) and the merged image (g). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.) (h) A SEM image of UC-IO@Polymer-SQ nanocomposite showing the average particle size of around 200 nm. (i) Photos of UC-IO@Polymer-SQ in aqueous solutions under the 980-nm laser and UV light with (upper) and without (down) the magnet. (j) UV/Vis and FL spectrum of UC-IO@Polymer-SQ nanocomposite. (k) UCL spectra of UC-IO@Polymer and UC-IO@Polymer-SQ. (l) Magnetization loops of IONPs and UC-IO@Polymer-SQ. This figure is reprinted from [74]. Copyright 2011, Elsevier B.V.

 Figure 7 

(A) Schematic representation of the synthetic routine of the water-soluble NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺@Fe_xO_y nanocrystals. (B, C) TEM image of NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ nanocrystals, NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺@Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals. (D) EDX spectrum of the NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺@Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals. (F) Magnetic hysteresis loops of measuring results of NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ (red line) and NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺@Fe_xO_y (black line) by vibrating sample magnetometer. (G) Room temperature UCL spectra of NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ (red line) and NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺@Fe₃O₄ (blue line) under excitation at a CW 980 nm laser (power ≥ 800 mW). This figure is reprinted from [75]. Copyright 2011, Elsevier B.V.

 Figure 8 

(A) Schematic formation processes of Fe₃O₄@NaGdF₄:Yb/Er@NaGdF₄:Yb/Er NPs. (B) Low-resolution, (C) high-resolution TEM image of Fe₃O₄ NPs; (D) low-resolution, (E) high-resolution TEM images of Fe₃O₄@NaGdF₄:Yb/Er NPs; (F) low-resolution, (G) high-resolution TEM images of Fe₃O₄@NaGdF₄:Yb/Er@NaGdF₄:Yb/Er core-shell NPs. (H) Up-conversion emission spectra of Fe₃O₄@NaGdF₄:Yb/Er (black line), Fe₃O₄@NaGdF₄:Yb/Er@NaGdF₄:Yb/Er (green line) and the corresponding photograph under 980 nm irradiation (inset). (I) magnetizations of pure Fe₃O₄ and Fe₃O₄@NaGdF₄:Yb/Er@NaGdF₄:Yb/Er NPs (inset) as a function of applied magnetic field measured at room temperature. This figure is reprinted from [76]. Copyright 2012, Royal Society of Chemistry.

3. Applications of Upconversion-Magnetic Nanoparticles

Zijlmans and co-workers were the first to exploit lanthanide-doped phosphors' upconverting properties to study biological recognition events [78]. Since then, there has been a substantial contribution to the development of biological labeling strategies that rely on the use of UC nanocrystals. Synthetic MNPs are emerging as versatile probes in biomedical applications, especially in the area of magnetic resonance imaging [79-84] and drug delivery [85-90]. So, when considering the applications of the upconversion-magnetic multifunctional nanoparticles, the strategies have been shown to be particularly attractive in multimodal imaging and magnetic targeted drug delivery. Most strategies developed in recent years can be divided into two categories: in vitro and in vivo applications.

3.1 Multimodal imaging

Organic fluorophores and fluorescent proteins have been traditionally used for in vivo imaging, but they typically suffer from low photostability and strong background auto fluorescence in the visible spectrum. Their broad emission bands often result in significant spectral overlapping, which can be a problem in spectral interpretation during multicolor imaging. Quantum dots are more photostable than the organic fluorophores and have relatively narrow emission bandwidths. Their potential cytotoxicity over time, however, remains to be established. In contrast, high-quality UCNPs and are investigated as fluorescent markers for imaging biological processes as well, as they benefit from the large anti-stokes shifts, narrow emission peaks, low toxicity, a high signal-to-noise ratio owing to the weak auto-fluorescence background generated by NIR excitation. However, photo luminescent imaging has one shortcoming of the low penetration depth of the excitation and emission light, which can be solved by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Owing to their large magnetic moment, superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles have been combined with RE-UCNPs together for fabricating magnetic operation, T2-enhanced MR imaging and UCL imaging. For example, Liu et al. developed multifunctional nanoparticles (MFNPs), NaYF₄:Yb,Er@Fe₃O₄@Au, which combined optical and magnetic properties useful for multimodality imaging (Figure 9 I) [71]. Recently, Li group also reported an imaging agent with NaYF₄:Yb,Tm@Fe_xO_y core/shell nanostructure for T2 MRI and UCL bimodal lymphatic imaging (Figure 9 II) [75].

 Figure 9 

I a-I c) The bright field (I a), UC luminescence (I b), and merged (I c) images of a KB tumor-bearing mouse one hour after intravenous injection of PEG-MFNPs. I d) Ex vivo UCL imaging showing accumulation of MNFPs in the liver, spleen, tumor, bone, and lung of the injected mouse at 24 h post injection. T2-weighted images of KB-tumor bearing nude mice with (I e) and without (I f) injection of MFNPs. Multimodal UCL (I g) and MR (I h) imaging for in vivo lymphangiography mapping using MFNPs [71]. In vivo UCL imaging of lymphatic system after injection with NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺@FexOy nanocrystals into a nude mouse at various time (II A) 0 min, (II B) 10 min and (II C) 20 min. (II F) T2-weighted and color-mapped MR images of various molar concentrations of NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺@FexOy nanocrystals. Deionized water (0 mg/mL) was the reference. (II G) Relaxation rate R2 (1/T2) vs. various molar concentrations of hydrophilic NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺@Fe_xO_y nanocrystals at room temperature using a 3T MRI scanner. (II H) MR images of the armpit region after injection with NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺@Fe_xO_y nanocrystals and Color-mapped coronal images of lymph node at various time [75]. This figure is reprinted from [71] and [75]. Copyright 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA and 2011 Elsevier B.V.

By introducing the high UC luminescence quantum yield NaLuF₄ as luminescent shell, Li group designed and synthesized the core/shell upconversion-magnetic Fe₃O₄@NaLuF₄:Yb,Er/Tm nanostructure (Figure 10 D-F) [67]. Owing to the large atomic number and high X-ray absorption coefficient of lutetium, NaLuF₄ can be used as a contrast agent for CT imaging. The UC luminescent, magnetic and X-ray attenuation properties of these nanoparticles were investigated in detail. Moreover, they also investigated the multimodal performance for MR, CT and UCL imaging. Xu and co-workers also demonstrate a facial synthetic method to prepare a novel UC-IO@Polymer-SQ nanocomposite for multi-model imaging. It can be used for triple-modal UCL/down-conversion FL/MR imaging in vitro and in vivo (Figure 10 A-C) [74].

 Figure 10 

(A) FL/UCL images of mice subcutaneously injected with UC-IO@Polymer-SQ labeled 4T1 cells taken 0 day, 5 days and 10 days after injection. (B) T2-weighted MR images of mice inoculated with UC-IO@Polymer-SQ labeled 4T1 cells and control unlabeled cells after 0 day and 5 days. (C) The MR signals plot of tumors on mice inoculated with UC-IO@Polymer-SQ treated 4T1 cells and untreated cells after 0 day and 5 days [74]. (D) In vivo UCL images of the tumor-bearing nude mice in bright field, dark field and overlay images after intratumoral injection of MUCNP. (E) T2-weighted coronal and transversal cross-sectional images of the nude mice bearing a tumor pre-injection and at 30 min after intratumoral injection of MUCNP. (F) In vivo CT volume-rendered and maximum intensity projection of coronal, transversal images of the tumor-bearing mouse after intratumoral injection [67]. This figure is reprinted from [67] and [74]. Copyright 2011 and 2012 Elsevier B.V.

3.2 Magnetic targeted drug delivery

One major problem in current chemotherapy is the drug dosage given to patients. A low dosage of drug is ineffective in the treatment of a tumor, whereas a high dosage of chemo-therapeutics is intolerable for patients due to toxicity and side effects. Therefore a new design for anticancer drugs is desirable to increase the local effective therapeutic concentration. Along this line, combine MNPs with the pharmaceutical carriers, conspired with UC luminescent nanoparticles as bio-labeling, the upconversion-magnetic multifunctional nanoparticles is considered to be one of the most effective ways to increase the therapeutic effectiveness.

Most recently, our group reported a concentric nanostructure with both UC and magnetic properties (Figure I) [66]. Importantly, the nanoparticle additionally contains a hollow volume that can accommodate a drug payload. The material was used as a drug delivery system to load the anti-cancer drug. Cytotoxicity and cell imaging experiments demonstrate the nanorattle materials to be biocompatible and easily endocytosed by cells. Intracellular drug release was also observed. The multifunctional nanorattles show advantages for in vivo enhancement of therapy efficacy by reducing the systemic toxicity of anti tumor drugs both through protection of the drug during circulation and by using magnetic fields to target the material to the lesion. Furthermore, with such a coreshell architecture surface coatings tailored for tumor targeting are conceivable, making it possible to engineer additional functionalities into this nanosystem. Except the triple-modal imaging of the polymer encapsulated UCNPs-iron oxide nanocomposites, which was developed by the Liu group, a chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin, is also loaded into the nanocomposite, forming an UC-IO@Polymer-DOX complex, which enables novel imaging-guided and magnetic targeted drug delivery (Figure 11 II) [74].

 Figure 11 

(I a) Integrated green and red UC emission intensity as a function of the DOX loading capacity; inset is the fluorescence spectra of free DOX and DOX loaded MUC-F-NR. (I b) pH-dependent release kinetics of DOX from loaded MUC-F-NR. (I c) Cell viability data of QGY-7701 cells incubated with free DOX and DOX-loaded MUC-F-NR at different concentrations; inset is cell viability with concentrations of drug free MUC-F-NR from 50 to 250 μg/mL for 72 h. (I d) Schematic illustration of targeting of DOX loaded multifunctional drug carrier to tumor cells assisted by an externally applied magnetic field (MF). (I e) Tumor location as defined by MUC-F-NR intensity increases with 1 h magnetic field treatment. (I f) The luminescence signal was measured from the whole tumor in vivo and ex vivo. (Excitation was provided by the CW infrared laser at 980 nm and UC luminescence signals were collected at 650 (10 nm. Fluence rates for 980 nm excitation light were 80 mW/cm2.) (I g) Tumor volume changes of saline-treated mice compared to mice treated with MUC-F-NR, DOX, and DOX loaded MUC-F-NR over 21 d in the absence and presence of magnetic field [66]. (II a, b) Photos of the cell culture dish with a magnet placed under the center of the dish. (II c - II e) Confocal UC luminescence and fluorescence images of HeLa cells after being incubated with UC-IO@Polymer-DOX in the presence of a magnetic field. (II f - II h) Confocal fluorescence images of calcein AM (green, live cells) and PI (red, dead cells) co-stained cells after magnetic targeted drug delivery [74]. This figure is reprinted from [66] and [74]. Copyright 2012 American Chemical Society and 2011 Elsevier B.V.

4. Conclusions and Outlook

This review has described recent developments in the synthesis and applications of upconversion-magnetic multifunctional nanoparticles. This research continues to be a vibrant and growing interdisciplinary field. In the near future, there are a number of areas of research that are particularly promising, but concerted efforts are still required for success:

• It was found that the methods for the synthesis of the upconversion-magnetic multifunctional nanoparticles are all the multi-step process. So, on the basis of the guarantee of high photoluminescence efficiency optical property and strong magnetic property, it is particularly important to develop a more simple protocol (e.g. one-pot method) to obtain the hybrid materials.
• Although there are many attractive advantages compared with the organic fluorophores and QDs, the efficiency of the UCNPs are still very low, which will further influence the performance and applications of the upconversion-magnetic multifunctional nanoparticles.

Despite the fact that some successful results were obtained, the development of multifunctional nanoprobes for multimodal imaging is still in its early stages. It is still a major challenge to design a multifunctional nanoprobe for simultaneous bio-imaging covering optical imaging, MRI, CT and other kinds of monitoring. In addition, active targeted multimodal imaging and drug delivery system still needs to be developed to realize the disease detection and therapy simultaneously.

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

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Author contact

Corresponding author: Email: zhang_fanedu.cn

Received 2012-9-4
Accepted 2012-10-24
Published 2013-3-21

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