Facile synthesis and potential bioimaging applications of hybrid upconverting and plasmonic NaGdF4: Yb3+, Er3+/silica/gold nanoparticles

Abstract

We present a simple method for preparing water dispersible NaGdF4: Yb3+, Er3+/silica/gold nanoparticles. The emission intensity and color of the upconverting cores are modulated by the plasmonic absorbance and field enhancement from the gold nanoparticles. The applicability of hybrid NPs for multi-modal bioimaging probes is illustrated by in vitro confocal microscopy of living cancer cells. © Ivyspring International Publisher.