Synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity in human erythrocytes of multifunctional, magnetic, and luminescent nanocrystalline rare earth fluorides.

Tomasz Grzyb,Lucyna Mrówczyńska,Zbigniew Śniadecki,Stefan Lis,Bogdan Idzikowski,Agata Szczeszak,Marcin Runowski

doi:10.1007/s11051-015-3191-2

Abstract

Multifunctional nanoparticles exhibiting red or green luminescence properties and magnetism were synthesized and thoroughly analyzed. The hydrothermal method was used for the synthesis of Eu3+- or Tb3+-doped GdF3-, NaGdF4-, and BaGdF5-based nanocrystalline materials. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the samples confirmed the desired compositions of the materials. Transmission electron microscope images revealed the different morphologies of the products, including the nanocrystal sizes, which varied from 12 nm in the case of BaGdF5-based nanoparticles to larger structures with dimensions exceeding 300 nm. All of the samples presented luminescence under ultraviolet irradiation, as well as when the samples were in the form of water colloids. The highest luminescence was observed for BaGdF5-based materials. The obtained nanoparticles exhibited paramagnetism along with probable evidence of superparamagnetic behavior at low temperatures. The particles’ magnetic characteristics were also preserved for samples in the form of a suspension in distilled water. The cytotoxicity studies against the human erythrocytes indicated that the synthesized nanoparticles are non-toxic because they did not cause the red blood cells shape changes nor did they alter their membrane structure and permeabilization.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11051-015-3191-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Highlights

In recent decades, nanotechnology and engineering of advanced nanomaterials became intensively researched subjects (Gupta and Gupta 2005; Wang et al 2005, 2013; Sharma et al 2006; Lin et al 2012; Park et al 2012; Gnach and Bednarkiewicz 2012)
Reactions performed in water at elevated temperature and pressure usually resulted in products of high crystallinity, which is especially important for luminescent nanomaterials, where defects of structure could increase non-radiative transitions and lower the emission efficiency (Karbowiak et al 2005)
The most broadened lines are observed for the Ln3?-doped BaGdF5 samples, which correspond to the smallest average crystallite size among the synthesized materials and are consistent with the transmission electron microscope (TEM) images (Fig. 2g, g1, h, and h1)

Summary

Introduction

Nanotechnology and engineering of advanced nanomaterials became intensively researched subjects (Gupta and Gupta 2005; Wang et al 2005, 2013; Sharma et al 2006; Lin et al 2012; Park et al 2012; Gnach and Bednarkiewicz 2012) This trend has resulted in research results from numerous applications of nanoparticles (Rapaport et al 2006; Hinklin et al 2008; Bedekar et al 2009; Selvan et al 2009; Li et al 2014). One from, the most important group of studied nanomaterials, is based on the properties of the materials containing lanthanide elements, e.g., the main and the most desired features, such as luminescence or magnetism, results from the properties of lanthanide ions (Ln3?) (Grzyb et al 2012) These unique advantages are interesting for nanomedicine in applications such as bioimaging, photodynamic therapy, or drug delivery (Park et al 2012; Wang et al 2013; Tu et al 2013). Additional functionalization of nanoparticles is possible, thereby changing their cytotoxic properties and providing the possibility of further modification (Grzyb et al 2013a; Runowski et al 2014)

Methods

Results

Conclusion