Detection of Cell Viability via Fluorescence Labeling of Silicate Phosphor with a Low-Temperature Superlong Persistent Luminescence

Abstract

Cell viability detection is usually accompanied by large errors and toxicity. For the accuracy and safety of detection, it is urgent to develop a practical approach to realize the real-time monitoring of cell viability. Here, a low-temperature persistent phosphor was employed to facilitate the detection of cell viability. Stable low-temperature persistent luminescence originating from Ba4Si6O16:Eu2+, Pr3+ (BSEP) was developed, which could be quantified to describe the viability of baby Syrian hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells. The defect state structure guarantees the excellent persistent luminescence at 193 K of more than 200 h of the as-prepared BSEP phosphor, which ensures the long-term biological application. The structural thermal stability and water tolerance of BSEP suggest the feasibility of the practical application. Our results provide the underlying insights of the low-temperature persistent phosphors for real-time biological detection.