Abstract
Lanthanide ion-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) that can convert low-energy infrared photons into high-energy visible and ultraviolet photons, are becoming highly sought-after for advanced biomedical and biophotonics applications. Their unique luminescent properties enable UCNPs to be applied for diagnosis, including biolabeling, biosensing, bioimaging, and multiple imaging modality, as well as therapeutic treatments including photothermal and photodynamic therapy, bio-reductive chemotherapy and drug delivery. For the employment of the inorganic nanomaterials into biological environments, it is critical to bridge the gap in between nanoparticles and biomolecules via surface modifications and subsequent functionalisation. This work reviews the various ways to surface modify and functionalise UCNPs so as to impart different functional molecular groups to the UCNPs surfaces for a broad range of applications in biomedical areas. We discussed commonly used base functionalities, including carboxyl, amino and thiol moieties that are typically imparted to UCNP surfaces so as to provide further functional capacity.
Highlights
Extensive research over the past decade has led to an expanded understanding and development of nanomaterials for their considerably broad use across both the scientific and technological spectrums, with disciplines such as nanomedicine, biotechnology, and forensics exhibiting excellent potential for application
The surface modification approaches for upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are selected basically depending on improvements to nanoparticle biocompatibility whilst allowing them to be protected from surrounding aqueous media
While there are many ways to modify the surfaces of UCNPs, this review aims at covering the two most popular methods, that being ligand engineering and silanisation
Summary
Extensive research over the past decade has led to an expanded understanding and development of nanomaterials for their considerably broad use across both the scientific and technological spectrums, with disciplines such as nanomedicine, biotechnology, and forensics exhibiting excellent potential for application. Popular choices for the surface modification of UCNPs include molecular ligands or silanisation as they naturally encapsulate and shield the nanoparticles from external interactions, substantially minimising nanoparticle dissolution and unwanted exchanges [5,8]. Another important role of the surface modified polymer molecules or silica shell is to provide further functionality to the UCNPs for desired operations. There is a small range of common base functional moieties, including carboxyl (–COOH), amino (–NH2 ) and thiol (–SH) groups, but their utilisation across a broad spectrum of applications differs. The moieties can be the same, the desired effect of the external influences may be completely opposing based on the given application
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