Multifunctional nanoclusters of NaYF:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticle and gold nanorod for simultaneous imaging and targeted chemotherapy of bladder cancer.

This paper reports successful synthesis of multifunctional nanoclusters of upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) and gold nanorod (AuNR) through a PEGylation process. UCNPs emit visible luminescence under near-infrared excitation, producing high-contrast images with no background fluorescence. When coupled with AuNRs, the resulting UCNP-AuNR multifunctional nanoclusters are capable of simultaneous detection and treatment of bladder cancer.

The Antineoplastic Activity of Photothermal Ablative Therapy with Targeted Gold Nanorods in an Orthotopic Urinary Bladder Cancer Model.

Background: Gold nanoparticles treated with near infrared (NIR) light can be heated preferentially, allowing for thermal ablation of targeted cells. The use of novel intravesical nanoparticle-directed therapy in conjunction with laser irradiation via a fiber optic cystoscope, represents a potential ablative treatment approach in patients with superficial bladder cancer.

Objective: To examine the thermal ablative effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-directed gold nanorods irradiated with NIR light in an orthotopic urinary bladder cancer model.

Experimental demonstration of plasmon enhanced energy transfer rate in NaYF4:Yb(3+),Er(3+) upconversion nanoparticles.

Energy transfer upconversion (ETU) is known to be the most efficient frequency upconversion mechanism. Surface plasmon can further enhance the upconversion process, opening doors to many applications. However, ETU is a complex process involving competing transitions between multiple energy levels and it has been difficult to precisely determine the enhancement mechanisms.

Plasmon enhancement mechanism for the upconversion processes in NaYF4:Yb(3+),Er(3+) nanoparticles: Maxwell versus Förster.

Rare-earth activated upconversion materials are receiving renewed attention for their potential applications in bioimaging and solar energy conversion. To enhance the upconversion efficiency, surface plasmon has been employed but the reported enhancements vary widely and the exact enhancement mechanisms are not clearly understood. In this study, we synthesized upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) coated with amphiphilic polymer which makes UCNPs water soluble and negatively charged.