Non-Aqueous Sol-Gel Synthesis of Ultra Small Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticles for Near-Infrared In Vivo Imaging

摘要

Ultra-small ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ nanoparticles (6 nm) that exhibit near-infrared (NIR) persistent luminescence properties are synthesized by using a non-aqueous sol-gel method assisted by microwave irradiation. The nanoparticles are pegylated, leading to highly stable dispersions under physiological conditions. Preliminary in vivo studies show the high potential for these ultra-small ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ nanoparticles to be used as in vivo optical nanotools as they emit without the need for in situ excitation and, thus, avoid the autofluorescence of tissues.