Polysulfonate Cappings on Upconversion Nanoparticles Prevent Their Disintegration in Water and Provide Superior Stability in a Highly Acidic Medium.
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ABSTRACT: The stability of organic cappings on hexagonal NaYF4:Ln3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) is crucial for their luminescence efficiency in aqueous solutions. The capping removal quickens as the acidity of the medium increases. We demonstrate here that polysulfonates, namely poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonate) (PAMPS) and poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS), remain anchored to the surface of NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+/Tm3 UCNPs even at a pH as low as 2 due to strong acidity of the sulfonate anchoring groups (pK a of ca. -3). Bare UCNPs progressively disintegrate into their compositional F-, Na+, Y3+, and Ln3+ ions. Their disintegration is particularly worrying in highly diluted dispersions of nanoparticles because both the lanthanide ions and/or the bare UCNPs can cause undesirable interference in a chemical or biological environment. Remarkably, the UC@PSS nanohybrid is particularly chemically stable, exhibiting an amazingly low release of Y3+ and Ln3+ ions for up to 96 h in highly diluted water dispersions (10 ?g/mL). Additional advantages of the use of PSS as capping layer are its biocompatibility and its high dispersibility in water, together with easy further functionalization of the UCNP@PSS nanohybrids.
SUBMITTER: Estebanez N
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6648593 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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