Abstract
Nuclear nanomedicine is an emerging field, which utilizes nanoformulations of nuclear agents to increase their local concentration at targeted sites for a more effective nuclear therapy at a considerably reduced radiation dosage. This field needs the development of methods for controlled fabrication of nuclear agents carrying nanoparticles with low polydispersity and with high colloidal stability in aqueous dispersions. In this paper, we apply methods of femtosecond (fs) laser ablation in deionized water to fabricate stable aqueous dispersion of 152Sm-enriched samarium oxide nanoparticles (NPs), which can capture neutrons to become 153Sm beta-emitters for nuclear therapy. We show that direct ablation of a 152Sm-enriched samarium oxide target leads to widely size- and shape-dispersed populations of NPs with low colloidal stability. However, by applying a second fs laser fragmentation step to the dispersion of initially formed colloids, we achieve full homogenization of NPs size characteristics, while keeping the same composition. We also demonstrate the possibility for wide-range tuning of the mean size of Sm-based NPs by varying laser energy during the ablation or fragmentation step. The final product presents dispersed solutions of samarium oxide NPs with relatively narrow size distribution, having spherical shape, a controlled mean size between 7 and 70 nm and high colloidal stability. The formed NPs can also be of importance for catalytic and biomedical applications.
Highlights
Being a member of the lanthanide family, Samarium (Sm) exhibits a series of physicochemical properties, which favor its applications in many areas, including the development of strong magnets [1], control rods of nuclear reactors [2], efficient catalysts [3,4], and agents for biomedicine [5,6,7]
Femtosecond laser ablation at low laser fluences generally leads to ejection of atoms and nanoscale clusters [35,36], while their amount depends on the laser fluence
These ablated atoms and clusters could form NPs in a confined region near the target surface, via a dynamic formation mechanism proposed by Mafune et al [37], with an increase of the NPs mean size resulting from the increase of laser fluence
Summary
Being a member of the lanthanide family, Samarium (Sm) exhibits a series of physicochemical properties, which favor its applications in many areas, including the development of strong magnets [1], control rods of nuclear reactors [2], efficient catalysts [3,4], and agents for biomedicine [5,6,7]. An important application of the 152Sm isotope is in nuclear medicine This isotope captures neutrons by a nuclear reaction, 152Sm (n, γ) 153Sm, to produce the short-lived samarium-based radio isotope 153Sm, which is known as one of most promising beta emitters for the treatment of malignant tumors, including lung, prostate and breast cancers [6,7]. NaNnaonsomcaatleeriaflso2r0m20,u1l0a, xtiFoOnRsPoEEfRSRmEVaIErWe of particular importance, as they can offer a series o2 fofad11ditional advantages, including a large surface area for catalysis [4] and other attractive properties for biomedical applicatiimonposr[ta8n].t aNppalnicoatfioornmouf tlhaetio152nSsmoifso1t5o2pSemis-einnnriucchleeadr msaemdicairnieu.mThicsoimsoptoopuencadpstuarrees noefugtrroenast bvyalue for a nuclear reaction, 152Sm (n, γ) 153Sm, to produce the short-lived samarium-based radio isotope 153Sm, advanciwnghicnhuicslekanrownnanaosmoneediocfinmeosatspirtomcaisningprboevtaideemaittehrisghforlothcealtrceoatnmceennttroaftimoanligonfatnht eturmadoriso,isotope. As an exampless,tuawrtfeae,crbeeuectnetenhrtegliyyr ossfuhnboaswenqoeumdeantthteadritiastlpsh.eerTshtieoecnrhefanonirdqe,usaetafboacifliilfzeeamatinotdonssicenaclsoaonblludetitloeancshsenriisaqpbureloafbtoiloremnthaientipclriodqduuueicdttosioctnhaoenfhbSimgeh-used for the fabribcaasteiodnNoPfsaisvsatirlilerteyquoifruedlt.rMapaukirneg, bpiooslsoibgliecfaalslyt p-frroidenudctliyonnoafnboamrea(tuenrciaolvse,riendc)luNdPisnign cgoolllodidNaPl ssta[1te6,18–22], titaniumwnitihtraidlmeo(sTtiaNn)yNcoPmsp[o2s3i]t,iosnil,icpounlseNdPlass[e2r4a–b2la7t]ioanndinolirqguaindsic[1p2o–l1y7m] (ePrLNALP)sp[r2o8v]i.dIens omnaenoyf bceasstes, such nanoparatlitcelrensactaivnesprtovsiadteisfsyuptheerioarbopvreo-psteartteidesdfeomr caantdasl.yAtics [a2n0]e, xeanmerpgley, awned rbeicoemntelydischaolw[2e9d,3t0h]aat pthpelications, comparetedchtoninquaenoomf faetmertoiaselscosnydntlhaseesrizaebdlabtiyoncoinnvliqenuitdiosncaalncbheemusiecdalfomr etthheofdabs,riacnatdioonthofera mvaertihetoydosf
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