Luminescent Nanothermometry Research Articles

Exploring Green Fluorescent Protein Brownian Motion: Temperature and Concentration Dependencies Through Luminescence Thermometry

AbstractLuminescent nanothermometry emerges as a powerful tool for studying protein dynamics. This technique was employed to perform the first measurement of the temperature dependence of protein Brownian velocity, showcasing the illustrative example of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) across physiologically relevant temperatures (30−50 °C) and concentrations (40, 60, and 80 × 10−3 kg m−3). EGFP exhibited a concentration‐dependent decrease in Brownian velocity, from (1.47 ± 0.09) × 10−3 m s−1 to (0.35 ± 0.01) × 10−3 m s−1, at 30 °C, mimicking crowded cellular environments. Notably, the protein Brownian velocity increased linearly with temperature. These results demonstrate the suitability of concentrated suspensions for modeling intracellular crowding and validate luminescent nanothermometry for protein Brownian motion studies. Furthermore, the observed linear relationship between the logarithm of the protein Brownian velocity and concentration indicates that EGFP motion is not primarily driven by diffusion, but more of a ballistic transport.

Integration of 3D Fluorescence Imaging and Luminescent Thermometry with Core-Shell Engineered NaYF4:Nd3+/Yb3+/Ho3+ Nanoparticles.

The design of rare-earth-doped upconversion/downshifting nanoparticles (NPs) for theoretical use in nanomedicine has garnered considerable interest. Previous research has emphasized luminescent nanothermometry and photothermal therapy, while three-dimensional (3D) near-infrared (NIR) luminescent tracers have received less attention. Our study introduces Nd3+-, Yb3+-, and Ho3+-doped NaYF4 core-shell luminescent NPs as potential multiparametric nanothermometers and NIR imaging tracers. Nd3+ sensitizes at 804 nm, while Yb3+ bridges to activators Ho3+. We evaluated the photoluminescence properties of Nd3+-, Yb3+-, and Ho3+-doped core and core-shell NPs synthesized via polyol-mediated and thermal decomposition methods. The NaYF4:NdYbHo(7/15/3%)@NaYF4:Nd(15%) core-shell NPs demonstrate competitive nanothermometry capabilities. Specifically, the polyol-synthesized sample exhibits a sensitivity of 0.27% K-1 at 313 K (40 °C), whereas the thermally decomposed synthesized sample shows a significantly higher sensitivity of 0.55% K-1 at 313 K (40 °C) in the near-infrared range. Control samples indicate back energy transfer processes from both Yb and Ho to Nd, while Yb to Ho energy transfer enhances Ho3+-driven upconversion transitions in green and red wavelengths, suggesting promise for photodynamic therapy. Fluorescence molecular tomography confirms 3D NIR fluorescence nanoparticle localization in a biological media after injection, highlighting the potential of core-shell NPs as NIR luminescent tracers. The strategy's clinical impact lies in photothermal treatment planning, leveraging core-shell NPs for (pre)clinical applications, and enabling the easy addition of new functionalities through distinct ion doping.

Ultrasensitive NIR-II Ratiometric Nanothermometers for 3D In Vivo Thermal Imaging.

Luminescent nanothermometry, particularly the one based on ratiometric, has sparked intense research for non-invasive in vivo or intracellular temperature mapping, empowering their uses as diagnosis tools in biomedicine. However, ratiometric detection still suffers from biased sensing induced by wavelength-dependent tissue absorption and scattering, low thermal sensitivity (Sr ), and lack of imaging depth information. Herein, this work constructs an ultrasensitive NIR-II ratiometric nanothermometer with self-calibrating ability for 3D in vivo thermographic imaging, in which temperature-insensitive lanthanide nanocrystals and strongly temperature-quenched Ag2 S quantum dots are co-assembled to form a hybrid nanocomposite material. Precise control over the amount ratio between two sub-materials enables the manipulation of heat-activated back energy transfer from Ag2 S to Yb3+ in lanthanide nanoparticles, thereby rendering Sr up to 7.8% °C-1 at 43.5 °C, and higher than 6.5% °C-1 over the entire physiological temperature range. Moreover, the luminescence intensity ratio between two separated spectral regions within the narrow Yb3+ emission peak is used to determine the depth information of nanothermometers in living mice and correct the effect of tissue depth on 2D thermographic imaging, and therefore allows a proof-of-concept demonstration of accurate 3D in vivo thermographic imaging, constituting a solid step toward the development of advanced ratiometric nanothermometry for biological applications.

Step by step optimization of luminescence thermometry in MgTiO3:Cr3+, Nd3+@SiO2 nanoparticles towards bioapplications

The increasing popularity of luminescent nanothermometry in recent years can be attributed to its application potential in biomedicine. In response to this need, we describe a biocompatible bimodal luminescent thermometer that operates in ratiometric and luminescence lifetime modes based on particles of MgTiO3:Cr3+,Nd3+@SiO2. The introduction of Cr3+ and Nd3+ dopants enabled the luminescence of Ti3+ ions to be observed, and the difference in the thermal quenching rates of Cr3+ (4T2→4A2), Ti3+ (2T2→2E) and Nd3+ (4F3/2 → 4I11/2) ions enabled the ratiometric thermometers. The highest sensitivity reaching SR = 1.00%K−1 was obtained for MgTiO3:0.1 % Cr3+, 0.1 % Nd3+ at 203 K. The shortening of the lifetime of the 4T2 level of Cr3+ ions associated with its thermal depopulation allows to develop a lifetime-based thermometer with a relative sensitivity reaching 0.85–1.18%K−1 in the physiological temperature range. The deposition of a SiO2 shell on a MgTiO3:Cr3+,Nd3+ did not introduce significant changes in the shape of the emission spectrum and slightly elongates the lifetime by reducing the probability of surface-related nonradiative processes. More importantly, the thermometric performance of this luminescence thermometer was preserved. The low cytotoxicity of the obtained materials underlines their potential in bioapplications of the described luminescent thermometers.

Manipulation phonon energy for improved thermometric sensitivity of only-core nanoparticles

Luminescent nano thermometry using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) has gained attention in recent years due to its potential advantages over conventional methods. One major challenge in practical applications of nanothermometers is achieving high sensitivity. While efforts have been made to improve the sensitivity of individual core nanoparticles, there are few reports on incorporating phonon energy and local crystal field distortions to improve the sensitivity of only-core upconversion nanoparticles. In this study, we propose a new approach to improve the sensitivity of only-core UCNPs thermometers through phonon tuning and self-photogenic heating. We use the ratio of the intensity of two bands (centered at 520 nm and 540 nm) based on dopant Er3+ as a referenced signal for optical sensing of temperature. We use a host material NaYF4 doped with K+ to produce local crystal field changes at the interface, modifying the phonon energy mode. As the temperature increases, the vibrational mode cannot propagate smoothly along the crystal axis throughout the crystal, disrupting the direction of lattice heat conduction and producing a significant local thermal effect on the nanoscale. This leads to a significant increase in sensitivity, and we achieve an enhanced thermal sensitivity more than twice that of conventional core-only nanoparticles.

Upconversion-Luminescent Fiber Microchannel Sensors for Temperature Monitoring at High Spatial Resolution in the Brains of Freely Moving Animals.

Brain temperature is a critical factor affecting neural activity and function, whose fluctuations may result in acute life-threatening health complications and chronic neuropathology. To monitor brain temperature, luminescent nanothermometry (LN) based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with low autofluorescence has received extensive attention for its advantages in high temperature sensitivity and high response speed. However, most of current the LNs are based on optical imaging, which fails in temperature monitoring in deep brain regions at high spatial resolution. Here, the fiber microchannel sensor (FMS) loaded with UCNPs (UCNP-FMS) is presented for temperature monitoring at high spatial resolution in the deep brains of freely moving animals. The UCNP-FMS is fabricated by incorporating UCNPs in microchannels of optical fibers, whose diameter is ∼50µm processed by femtosecond laser micromachining for spatially resolved sensing. The UCNPs provide thermal-sensitive upconversion emissions at dual wavelengths for ratiometric temperature sensing, ensuring a detection accuracy of ± 0.3°C at 37°C. Superior performances of UCNP-FMS are demonstrated by real-time temperature monitoring in different brain regions of freely moving animals under various conditions such as taking food, undergoing anesthesia/wakefulness, and suffering external temperature changes. Moreover, this study shows the capability of UCNP-FMS in distributed temperature sensing in mammalian brains in vivo.

Shell Engineering on Thermal Sensitivity of Lifetime-Based NIR Nanothermometers for Accurate Temperature Measurement in Murine Internal Liver Organ.

Lifetime-based NIR luminescent nanothermometry is ideally suited for temperature detection in living cells and in vivo, but the thermal sensitivity (Sr) modulation remains elusive. Herein, a thorough investigation is performed to unveil the shell effect on lifetime-based Sr by finely controlling the shell thickness of lanthanide-doped core-shell-shell nanoparticles. Owing to the space-dependent energy transfer and back energy transfer between Nd3+ and Yb3+ as well as the energy migration to surface quenchers, both active and inert shells can regulate the thermal-dependent nonradiative decays and NIR luminescence lifetime of Yb3+, which in turn modulates the Sr from 0.56% to 1.54% °C-1. After poly(acrylic acid) modification of the optimal architecture, the tiny nanoprobes possess robust stability to fluctuations in the microenvironment, which enables accurate temperature mapping of inflammation in the internal liver organ of living mouse. This work will provide new insights for optimizing Sr and guidance for precise temperature measurements in vivo.

Thermoresponsive Polymeric Nanolenses Magnify the Thermal Sensitivity of Single Upconverting Nanoparticles.

Lanthanide-based upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are trustworthy workhorses in luminescent nanothermometry. The use of UCNPs-based nanothermometers has enabled the determination of the thermal properties of cell membranes and monitoring of in vivo thermal therapies in real time. However, UCNPs boast low thermal sensitivity and brightness, which, along with the difficulty in controlling individual UCNP remotely, make them less than ideal nanothermometers at the single-particle level. In this work, it is shown how these problems can be elegantly solved using a thermoresponsive polymeric coating. Upon decorating the surface of NaYF4 :Er3+ ,Yb3+ UCNPs with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), a >10-fold enhancement in optical forces is observed, allowing stable trapping and manipulation of a single UCNP in the physiological temperature range (20-45°C). This optical force improvement is accompanied by a significant enhancement of the thermal sensitivity- a maximum value of 8%°C+1 at 32°C induced by the collapse of PNIPAM. Numerical simulations reveal that the enhancement in thermal sensitivity mainly stems from the high-refractive-index polymeric coating that behaves as a nanolens of high numerical aperture. The results in this work demonstrate how UCNP nanothermometers can be further improved by an adequate surface decoration and open a new avenue toward highly sensitive single-particle nanothermometry.

Phase Transition‐Driven Highly Sensitive, NIR–NIR Band‐Shape Luminescent Thermometer Based on LiYO2:Nd3+

AbstractAlmost all existing luminescent thermometers rely on the temperature‐dependent processes such as multi‐phonon relaxation and phonon‐assisted energy transfers, thermal population, or coupling between energy levels of ground and excited states of luminescent species (lanthanides, transition metals, quantum dots, fluorescent molecules, etc.). Although such phenomena are in principle suitable for straightforward calibration, aiming to offer high temperature sensitivity, high temperature resolution and the widest possible temperature sensitivity range, their performance is often dependent on the excitation intensity or sample dispersive properties and often suffers from insufficient brightness, which further becomes dimmer at increased temperatures. Exploiting temperature‐dependent continuous phase transitions that modify the same near‐infrared (NIR) emission band under the same NIR excitation wavelength may provide an alternative reading method for temperature sensing. Here, such a new principle of luminescent nano‐thermometry (LNT) using a Nd3+ doped nanocrystalline LiYO2 matrix is studied, significant sensitivities of up to 6%/K are achieved, and other issues found in conventional LNT are circumvented. Due to the hysteresis found in this class of LNT, they may find applications in studies of temperature gradients and can be integrated with modern nanophotonic devices.

ZnxMn1–XFe2O4@SiO2:zNd3+ Core–Shell Nanoparticles for Low-Field Magnetic Hyperthermia and Enhanced Photothermal Therapy with the Potential for Nanothermometry

Multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) that can generate and monitor heat (in real-time) during thermal therapy are a major challenge in nanomedicine. Here, we report a trimodal system combining magnetic NP hyperthermia (MNH), photothermal therapy (PTT), and luminescent nanothermometry (LNT) properties with an all-in-one nanoplatform. Zinc–manganese ferrite NPs were optimized focusing on low field MNH, where Zn0.3Mn0.7Fe2O4 proved as a competitive nanoheater at clinically relevant conditions. Further, SiO2-coated Zn0.3Mn0.7Fe2O4/cit. with embedded Nd3+ (Zn0.3Mn0.7Fe2O4@SiO2:Nd) NPs were prepared for the potency of multifunctionality as LNT and enhanced PTT. Photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE), at low laser power conditions (1.5 W/cm2), varied from 17% for silica-coated magnetic NPs to 24% after embedding 1 mmol of Nd3+ in the SiO2 matrix. Increasing laser power to 11.8 W/cm2 decreased the PCE of Zn0.3Mn0.7Fe2O4@SiO2:Nd to 9%, but this deleterious effect was reduced significantly by the shell engineering strategy, that is, increasing the shell thickness Zn0.3Mn0.7Fe2O4@ SiO2@SiO2:Nd that maintained a PCE value of 18%. Additionally, as a potential nanothermometer, with excitation around 800 nm and emission at the second biological window, the thermal sensitivity of the system was found to be ∼1.1 % K–1 at 300 K (27 °C), ∼ 1.4% K–1 at 316 K (43 °C), and ∼1.5% K–1 at 319 K (46 °C). Additionally, simultaneous heating effects due to magnetic fields and photoexcitation (808 nm) on Zn0.3Mn0.7Fe2O4@SiO2@SiO2:Nd show synergy effects between MNH and PTT. Because of the high hemolytic activity toward the red blood cells due to the SiO2 layer, we also demonstrate that surface coating the nanocarrier with bovine serum albumin drastically reduced the hemolytic activity providing a capability for future in vivo applications with this multifunctional nanocarrier.

Sources of Double-Wave Narrow-Band Emission Based on Diamond Nanoparticles with Simultaneously Introduced Germanium–Vacancy and Silicon–Vacancy Color Centers

The method of hot-filament chemical vapor deposition has been employed to synthesize diamond particles with germanium–vacancy and silicon–vacancy color centers. In the next stage, the reactive ion-plasma etching of the particles was performed. This, yielded diamond nanoparticles with photoluminescence spectra constituted by two narrow high-intensity zero-phonon lines of the centers introduced. These fluorescent diamond nanoparticles are promising for application as sources of double-wave narrow-band emission in luminescent nanothermometry.

Synthesis, Cytotoxicity Assessment and Optical Properties Characterization of Colloidal GdPO4:Mn2+, Eu3+ for High Sensitivity Luminescent Nanothermometers Operating in the Physiological Temperature Range.

Herein, a novel synthesis method of colloidal GdPO4:Mn2+,Eu3+ nanoparticles for luminescent nanothermometry is proposed. XRD, TEM, DLS, and zeta potential measurements confirmed the crystallographic purity and reproducible morphology of the obtained nanoparticles. The spectroscopic properties of GdPO4:Mn2+,Eu3+ with different amounts of Mn2+ and Eu3+ were analyzed in a physiological temperature range. It was found that GdPO4:1%Eu3+,10%Mn2+ nanoparticles revealed extraordinary performance for noncontact temperature sensing with relative sensitivity SR = 8.88%/°C at 32 °C. Furthermore, the biocompatibility and safety of GdPO4:15%Mn2+,1%Eu3+ was confirmed by cytotoxicity studies. These results indicated that colloidal GdPO4 doped with Mn2+ and Eu3+ is a very promising candidate as a luminescent nanothermometer for in vitro applications.

Ratiometric upconversion nanothermometry with dual emission at the same wavelength decoded via a time-resolved technique

The in vivo temperature monitoring of a microenvironment is significant in biology and nanomedicine research. Luminescent nanothermometry provides a noninvasive method of detecting the temperature in vivo with high sensitivity and high response speed. However, absorption and scattering in complex tissues limit the signal penetration depth and cause errors due to variation at different locations in vivo. In order to minimize these errors and monitor temperature in vivo, in the present work, we provided a strategy to fabricate a same-wavelength dual emission ratiometric upconversion luminescence nanothermometer based on a hybrid structure composed of upconversion emissive PbS quantum dots and Tm-doped upconversion nanoparticles. The ratiometric signal composed of two upconversion emissions working at the same wavelength, but different luminescent lifetimes, were decoded via a time-resolved technique. This nanothermometer improved the temperature monitoring ability and a thermal resolution and sensitivity of ~0.5 K and ~5.6% K−1 were obtained in vivo, respectively.

Источники двухволнового узкополосного излучения на основе алмазных наночастиц с введенными одновременно центрами окраски германий-вакансия и кремний-вакансия

Diamond particles with germanium-vacancy and silicon-vacancy color centers were synthesized by Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition technique. The next step was the reactive ion-plasma etching of the particles. As a result, the diamond nanoparticles were obtained whose photoluminescence spectra consist of two narrow intense zero phonon lines of the embedded centers. Such fluorescent diamond nanoparticles are promising as dual-wavelength narrow-band light emitters for luminescent nanothermometry.

Self-Calibrated Double Luminescent Thermometers Through Upconverting Nanoparticles.

Luminescent nanothermometry uses the light emission from nanostructures for temperature measuring. Non-contact temperature readout opens new possibilities of tracking thermal flows at the sub-micrometer spatial scale, that are altering our understanding of heat-transfer phenomena occurring at living cells, micro electromagnetic machines or integrated electronic circuits, bringing also challenges of calibrating the luminescent nanoparticles for covering diverse temperature ranges. In this work, we report self-calibrated double luminescent thermometers, embedding in a poly(methyl methacrylate) film Er3+- and Tm3+-doped upconverting nanoparticles. The Er3+-based primary thermometer uses the ratio between the integrated intensities of the 2I15/2 and 4I15/2 transitions (that follows the Boltzmann equation) to determine the temperature. It is used to calibrate the Tm3+/Er3+ secondary thermometer, which is based on the ratio between the integrated intensities of the 1H6 (Tm3+) and the 4I15/2 (Er3+) transitions, displaying a maximum relative sensitivity of 2.96% K−1 and a minimum temperature uncertainty of 0.07 K. As the Tm3+/Er3+ ratio is calibrated trough the primary thermometer it avoids recurrent calibration procedures whenever the system operates in new experimental conditions.

Dual-mode luminescent core-shell nanoarchitectures for highly sensitive optical nanothermometry

Currently, FIR-based luminescent nanothermometry has aroused wide concern for its promising applications in fast-moving objects, harsh environments and microscopic temperature. Synchronously promoting the absolute and relative sensitivities of optical thermometers is one of the significant issues at present. In this work, a new nanothermometry strategy to possess both high absolute and relative sensitivities have been proposed by coupling of thermally-coupled-levels-based technique with non-thermally-coupled-levels method in the core-shell designed nanomaterials. Following this strategy, the core-shell-structured NaGdF4:Yb,Er@ NaYF4:Ce,Tb,Eu nanocrystals have been successfully prepared. Remarkably, the adverse cross-relaxation among different activators is extremely suppressed owing to the spatial separation of Er3+ and Eu3+,Tb3+ activators, being conducive to the realization of both intense green upconverting emissions and yellow downshifting luminescence. Moreover, the temperature-sensitive dual-mode luminescent behaviors of core-shell nanomaterials are systematically studied to probe the possible application in FIR-related luminescent thermometry. Specially, the thermally-coupled-levels-based FIR of Er3+:2H11/2 → 4I15/2 transition to Er3+: 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 one and non-thermally-coupled-levels-based FIR of Eu3+:5D0→7F2 transition to Tb3+:5D4→7F6 one are proved to be applicable as temperature probes, leading to the achievement of dual-mode temperature sensing. Using the pre-designed core@shell nanoarchitectures, the absolute sensitivity can reach up to 1.02% K−1 based on Eu3+,Tb3+ Stokes emissions and the relative sensitivity could reach as high as 1.12% K−1 based on Er3+ anti-Stokes luminescence. We believe that this study provides a valid approach for developing high-performance optical nanothermometers.

Temperature sensitivity modulation through crystal field engineering in Ga3+ co-doped Gd3Al5-xGaxO12:Cr3+, Nd3+ nanothermometers

Luminescent nanothermometry (LNT) based on temperature-dependent emission intensity of transition metals (TM) is a promising new direction to enhance the performance and implement LNT in many fields of science and technology. However, insightfully understanding and analysis of the luminescence thermal quenching mechanisms in this type of compounds is required. In this work, we study temperature sensitivity (S) modified by crystal field engineering in Gd3Al5-xGaxO12:Cr3+, Nd3+ TM:LNTs. Substituting Al3+ ions in the host matrix by Ga3+ ones, caused gradual decline of crystal field strength from Dq/B = 2.69 for Gd3Al5O12:Cr3+, Nd3+ to the Dq/B = 2.18 for Gd3Ga5O12:Cr3+, Nd3+. In consequence, improvement of relative sensitivity was observed. Two temperature dependent parameters were taken into considerations as potential temperature measure, i.e. luminescence intensity ratios of 4T2 → 4A2 (Cr3+) to 4F3/2 → 4I9/2 (Nd3+) and 2E → 4A2 (Cr3+) to 4T2 → 4A2 (Cr3+). The proposed method, based on crystal field strength engineering, improved the relative temperature sensitivity by over 1.37%/°C for −1 Dq/B change in crystal field strength, from initial 1.2–1.9%/°C.

Luminescent nanothermometry using short-wavelength infrared light

We analyzed the potentiality of the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) emissions of different lanthanide ions (Er3+, Tm3+ and Ho3+) embedded in different hosts for luminescence thermometry. The 1.55 μm emission band generated by Er3+ has different Stark sub-levels that can be used in temperature sensing purposes. However, the thermal sensitivity that can be achieved with this emission is relatively low, ranging from 0.06 to 0.15% K−1. In the case of Tm3+, the emissions arising from the 3F4 and 3H4 electronically coupled energy levels are useful for luminescence thermometry, with a linear evolution for the intensity ratio in the biological range as the temperature increases, which simplifies the calibration procedure for luminescent thermometers based on this parameter. When co-doped with Ho3+, an efficient energy transfer between the Tm3+ and Ho3+ ions is generated, that results in a new emission line centered at 1.96 μm that can be also used for luminescence thermometry purposes, with an enhanced thermal sensitivity when pumped at 808 nm. The thermal sensitivities achieved with these doping ions are higher than those obtained with Er3+ and are comparable to those reported previously for some lanthanide-doped materials operating in the visible, and in the I- and II-BWs. We demonstrated the potentiality of these emissions in the SWIR region for luminescence thermometry and imaging in ex-vivo experiments by monitoring the increase of temperature induced in chicken breast meat, with an experimental thermal resolution of ∼0.5 K, below the theoretical value of 0.8 K predicted for particles operating in this spectral region, and a penetration depth of at least 0.5 cm.

Nanometer-scale luminescent thermometry in bovine embryos.

Luminescent nanothermometry is a powerful tool that can precisely monitor temperature changes in animal embryos. Among the most sensitive nanoluminescent temperature sensors are fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs), having nitrogen-vacancy color centers, and lanthanide-ion-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). Here, we investigate their use as nanothermometers inside bovine embryos. The motivation for using both FNDs and UCNPs to measure temperature is to avoid the question of sensor confusion by the local cellular environment. Specifically, by simultaneously measuring temperature using two different modalities having different physics, it is possible to greatly improve the measurement confidence, thereby directly addressing the recent controversy surrounding temperature measurements in living organisms.

Novel low-cost, compact and fast signal processing sensor for ratiometric luminescent nanothermometry

We developed a new compact, low-cost and non-invasive temperature sensor based on a ratiometric luminescence technique. The setup included a commercial digital color sensor, which collects simultaneously signals in the blue, green and red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, usually used to assess the quality of computer screens and used for the first time here as a sensor for luminescent thermometry, coupled to an optical system that focuses an excitation laser beam onto luminescent nanoparticles emitting at least in two of these electromagnetic regions, which simplifies considerably the design, alignment and measurement procedures of setups used up to now for the same purpose. The same optical system collects the emission arising from the luminescent nanoparticles and directs it towards the digital color sensor through a dichroic mirror. We probed the potentiality of this setup for luminescence thermometry in the biological range of temperatures using Er,Yb:NaYF4, and up to 673K for microelectronic applications using Tm,Yb:GdVO4 up-converting nanoparticles. The thermal sensitivity obtained in both cases is similar to that previously reported for the same kinds of nanoparticles using conventional systems. This validates our setup for temperature measurements. Also, we developed new flexible and transparent polymer composites, in which we embedded upconversion luminescent nanoparticles of Er,Yb:NaYF4 in PDMS, a standard polymer for microfluidic devices used for biomedical studies, which allow fabricating thermometric microfluidic chips in which temperature can be determined using our setup. The thermal sensitivity for these composites is slightly smaller than that of the bare nanoparticles, bur still allowing for precise and fast temperature measurements.