Abstract
© 2017 American Chemical Society.Light upconversion by triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA-UC) in nanoparticles has received considerable attention for bioimaging and light activation of prodrugs. However, the mechanism of TTA-UC is inherently sensitive for quenching by molecular oxygen. A potential oxygen protection strategy is the coating of TTA-UC nanoparticles with a layer of oxygen-impermeable material. In this work, we explore if (organo)silica can fulfill this protecting role. Three synthesis routes are described for preparing water-dispersible (organo)silica-coated red-to-blue upconverting liposomes. Their upconversion properties are investigated in solution and in A549 lung carcinoma cells. Although it was found that the silica offered no protection from oxygen in solution and after uptake in A549 cancer cells, upon drying of the silica-coated liposome dispersion in an excess of (organo)silica precursor, interesting liposome-silica nanocomposite materials were obtained that were capable of generating blue light upon red light excitation in air.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 322-334 |
| Journal | ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Mar 2017 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Funding
This work was supported by the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO-CW) via a VIDI grant to S.B. The European Research Council is kindly acknowledged for a Starting Grant to S.B. Prof. E. Bouwman is gratefully acknowledged for her support and input. The COST action CM1105 Functional metal complexes that bind to biomolecules is gratefully acknowledged for stimulating scientific discussion.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Dutch Organization for Scientific Research | |
| NWO-CW | |
| European Research Council |