Novel Fluorescent Probe Based on Rare-Earth Doped Upconversion Nanomaterials and Its Applications in Early Cancer Detection.

In this paper, a novel rare-earth-doped upconverted nanomaterial NaYF:Yb,Tm fluorescent probe is reported, which can detect cancer-related specific miRNAs in low abundance. The detection is based on an upconversion of nanomaterials NaYF:Yb,Tm, with emissions at 345, 362, 450, 477, 646, and 802 nm, upon excitation at 980 nm. The optimal Yb:Tm doping ratio is 40:1, in which the NaYF:Yb,Tm nanomaterials have the strongest fluorescence.

Luminescence Reduced Graphene Oxide Based Photothermal Purification of Seawater for Drinkable Purpose.

Getting drinking water from seawater is a hope and long-term goal that has long been explored. Here, we report graphene-loaded nonwoven fabric membranes for seawater purification based on photothermal heating. The photothermal membrane of non-woven fabric loaded with graphene oxide has high light absorption and strong heating effect, and its evaporation rate about 5 times higher than that of non-woven fabric.

Recent Advances of Upconversion Nanomaterials in the Biological Field.

Rare Earth Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are a type of material that emits high-energy photons by absorbing two or more low-energy photons caused by the anti-stokes process. It can emit ultraviolet (UV) visible light or near-infrared (NIR) luminescence upon NIR light excitation. Due to its excellent physical and chemical properties, including exceptional optical stability, narrow emission band, enormous Anti-Stokes spectral shift, high light penetration in biological tissues, long luminescent lifetime, and a high signal-to-noise ratio, it shows a prodigious application potential for bio-imaging and photodynamic therapy.

Aggregation-induced emission luminogens for highly effective microwave dynamic therapy.

Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) exhibit efficient cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capability and unique light-up features in the aggregated state, which have been well explored in image-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, the limited penetration depth of light in tissue severely hinders AIEgens as a candidate for primary or adjunctive therapy for clinical applications. Coincidentally, microwaves (MWs) show a distinct advantage for deeper penetration depth in tissues than light.

A Photothermal Therapy Strategy for Monitoring Real-Time Temperature in Kidney Cancers by Injecting Gold Nanorods with Phosphors.

Photothermal ablation therapy (PTA) has been widely reported; however, it is not possible to predict the internal temperature of the tumor in real time that causes ineffective treatment and normal tissue burns. Here, we have designed a photothermal therapy strategy under real-time temperature monitoring by injecting gold nanorods (AuNRs) and NaYF₄: Yb ₄ phosphors to monitor the temperature inside the tumor. Our experiments confirm the effectiveness of this strategy, which is expected to be an aid in the development of real-time temperature monitoring and effective photothermal therapy for the treatment of cancers.

Nitrogen-doped fluorescence carbon dots as multi-mechanism detection for iodide and curcumin in biological and food samples.

Iodine ion is one of the most indispensable anions in living organisms, particularly being an important substance for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Curcumin is a yellow-orange polyphenol compound derived from the rhizome of , which has been commonly used as a spice and natural coloring agent, food additives, cosmetics as well as Chinese medicine. However, excess curcumin may cause DNA inactivation, lead to a decrease in intracellular ATP levels, and trigger the tissue necrosis.