LuAG:Pr-porphyrin based nanohybrid system for singlet oxygen production: Toward the next generation of PDTX drugs.

A highly prospective drug for the X-ray induced photodynamic therapy (PDTX), LuAG:Pr@SiO-PpIX nanocomposite, was successfully prepared by a three step process: photo-induced precipitation of the LuAlO:Pr (LuAG:Pr) core, sol-gel technique for amorphous silica coating, and a biofunctionalization by attaching the protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) molecules. The synthesis procedure provides three-layer nanocomposite with uniform shells covering an intensely luminescent core. Room temperature radioluminescence (RT RL) spectra as well as photoluminescence (RT PL) steady-state and time resolved spectra of the material confirm the non-radiative energy transfer from the core Pr ions to the PpIX outer layer.