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Ca3(PO4)2:Er3+,Yb3+: An upconversion phosphor for in vivo imaging

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Inorganic Materials Aims and scope

Abstract

Using a sol-gel process, we have synthesized compounds isostructural with the biogenic mineral whitlockite and containing calcium phosphate, β-Ca3(PO4)2, codoped with Er3+ and Yb3+ in various concentrations and ratios. Their particle size was determined to be ∼42–57 nm by atomic force microscopy and ∼93 nm by dynamic light scattering. The particles were shown to be weak anion exchangers (their zeta potential is −13.3 mV). The observed luminescence of the β-Ca3(PO4)2:Er3+,Yb3+ phosphates in the visible spectral region (λ = 0.525, 0.550, and 0.650 μm) under IR excitation (λ = 0.98 μm) is due to the upconversion mechanism and is acceptable for in vivo imaging in terms of safety (green emission) and intensity. Biocompatibility testing results demonstrate that the β-Ca3(PO4)2:Er3+,Yb3+ phosphates meet the relevant biosafety and nontoxicity criteria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lobachevsky State University, pr. Gagarina 23, Nizhni Novgorod, 603950, Russia

    A. I. Orlova & N. V. Malanina

  2. Research and Education Center for the Physics of Solid-State Nanostructures, Lobachevsky State University, pr. Gagarina 23, Nizhni Novgorod, 603950, Russia

    S. N. Pleskova, E. N. Gorshkova, E. E. Pudovkina & O. N. Gorshkov

  3. Research Institute of Physics and Technology, Lobachevsky State University, pr. Gagarina 23/3, Nizhni Novgorod, 603950, Russia

    A. N. Shushunov

Authors
  1. A. I. Orlova
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  2. S. N. Pleskova
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  3. N. V. Malanina
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  4. A. N. Shushunov
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  5. E. N. Gorshkova
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  6. E. E. Pudovkina
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  7. O. N. Gorshkov
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Correspondence to A. I. Orlova.

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Original Russian Text © A.I. Orlova, S.N. Pleskova, N.V. Malanina, A.N. Shushunov, E.N. Gorshkova, E.E. Pudovkina, O.N. Gorshkov, 2013, published in Neorganicheskie Materialy, 2013, Vol. 49, No. 7, pp. 745–750.

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Orlova, A.I., Pleskova, S.N., Malanina, N.V. et al. Ca3(PO4)2:Er3+,Yb3+: An upconversion phosphor for in vivo imaging. Inorg Mater 49, 696–700 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0020168513070157

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0020168513070157

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