Upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material and uses thereof
Upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material(s) comprising at least one compound of formula (M 1 ) j (M 2 ) k X n :(M 3 ) q and at least one polymer, wherein: each X is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of: halogen, O, S, Se, Te, N, P and As; each M 1 , if present, is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, O and NH 4 ; each M 2 is the same or different and is a metal ion; each M 3 , independently, is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu; j is 0≦j≦10; k is 1≦k≦10; n is 1≦n≦10; and q is 1≦q≦10. In particular, the polymer is wherein the polymer soluble in polar solvents.
1. An upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material comprising at least one compound of formula (M 1 ) j (M 2 ) k X n :(M 3 ) q and at least one polymer, the polymer having a concentration of 5-25 weight %, wherein
each X is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of: halogen, O, S, Se, Te, N, P and As;
each M 1 , if present, is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, O and NH 4 ;
each M 2 is the same or different and is a metal ion;
each M 3 , independently, is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu;
j is 0≦j≦10; k is 1≦k≦10; n in 1≦n≦10; and q is 0≦q≦10,
and wherein the polymer is on the nano-structured material.
2. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , wherein q is 2.
3. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , wherein M 2 is selected from the group consisting of: transition metal ions, inner transition metal ions, and Group I to Group VI metal ions.
4. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer has an average molecular weight of about 10-40 kDa.
5. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of: polyethylenimine (PEI), Poly-l-lysine (PLL), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(4 vinylpyridine) (P4VP), oleic acid, stearic acid, chitosan and mixtures thereof.
6. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to preceding claim 1 , wherein each M 3 is different and is selected from the group consisting of: Yb, Er, Tm and Ho.
7. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , wherein the nano-structured material is selected from the group consisting of: PEI/NaYF 4 ; PEI/NaYF 4 :Yb,Er; PEI/NaYF 4 :Yb,Tm; PEI/NaYF 4 :Yb,Ho; PVP/NaYF 4 ; PVP/NaYF 4 :Yb,Er; PVP/NaYF 4 :Yb,Tm; PVP/NaYF 4 :Yb,Ho and a combination thereof.
8. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , wherein the nano-structured material has a crystal structure selected from the group consisting of: hexagonal, cubic, tetragonal, rhombohedral, orthorhombic, monoclinic, triclinic and a combination thereof.
9. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , wherein the nano-structured material comprises at least one dimension of size ≦100 nm.
10. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , wherein the nano-structured material is in the form of: nanoparticle(s), nanofilm or monolith.
11. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one layer of silica which is disposed about the nano-structured material and which modifies the surface of the nano-structured material.
12. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one layer of silica is doped with a fluorescent dye or quantum dot.
13. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to any preceding claim 1 , further comprising at least one photosensitizer which is disposed about the nano-structured material.
14. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one biomolecule attached to the nano-structured material.
15. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , wherein the nano-structured material is soluble in water and/or polar solvents.
16. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , wherein the nano-structured material is a NIR-to-visible upconversion fluorescent nanoparticle.
17. An article of manufacture comprising the upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 .
18. The article of manufacture according to claim 17 , wherein the article of manufacture is at least one of the following: a display device, a solar cell, an optical data storage, a bio-probe, a carrier for drug delivery, a lamp, a LED, a LCD, a wear resistance, a laser, optical amplifier, and/or a device for bio-imaging.
19. The article of manufacture according to claim 17 , wherein the article of manufacture is a bio-imaging and/or bio-detection apparatus comprising:
at least one upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 ;
at least one biomolecule;
at least one source of excitation; and
at least one means for delivery of the source of excitation to the apparatus.
20. The apparatus article of manufacture according to claim 19 , wherein the source of excitation is NIR.
21. The apparatus article of manufacture according to claim 20 , wherein the NIR is at 980 nm.
22. The article of manufacture according to claim 19 , wherein the means for delivery of the source of excitation to the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of: optical fibres, LED, endoscopes, external light and external laser.
23. A method for photodynamic therapy, non-invasive bio-imaging and/or non-invasive bio-detection, the method comprising the step of administering to a subject the nano-structured material according to claim 1 .
24. A method of preparing at least one upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material as defined in claim 1 , comprising:
a. mixing ions of at least one M 3 and at least one M 2 to obtain a mixture;
b. adding at least one polymer to the mixture; and
c. adding ions of at least one X.
25. The method according to claim 24 , further comprising adding the polymer in the presence of ions of at least one M1.
26. The upconversion fluorescent nano-structured material according to claim 1 , wherein the nano-structured material is biocompatible.