Novel lanthanide-based approaches for bioimaging and energy conversion technologies

基于镧系元素（Ln）的材料因其光学性质而已知，例如上转换（UPC）过程（在近红外（NIR）激发下发射UV/维斯光）和在较高能量NIR光激发下发射较低能量NIR光。受此启发，拟议研究计划的总体目标是开发Ln-纳米荧光粉作为基于NIR的生物成像和能量转换技术的多功能纳米载体，从而解决包括社会健康和能源问题在内的全球挑战。* 在生物成像的背景下，NIR光由于其比UV/维斯光更深地穿透到生物组织中而受到关注。然而，仍然需要创新的生物相容性NIR探针，用于毫米范围以外的高分辨率光学生物成像。关于能量问题，已经建议将上转换纳米颗粒（UCNP）应用于光致发光或光致发光。然而，UPC工艺的低量子产率是限制其用作有吸引力的太阳能转换器的主要限制。在接下来的五年里，这个结合了材料科学、化学、物理和生物学方面的研究计划将有助于克服这些障碍。我们将重点讨论三个主题，每个主题都有自己的NIR或UPC相关方面：*1。稀土纳米荧光粉多功能载体的研究进展。用于生物成像和能量转换的创新Ln纳米荧光粉将通过自下而上的化学方法合成。尺寸和形貌控制对于优化光学性质至关重要。通过改变掺杂剂-基质对、共掺杂剂和掺杂剂浓度，将进一步调整光谱分布。* 2.应用到生物系统中。寻求开发新的生物探针，在生物系统中实施Ln-纳米磷光体以及评估毒性和纳米生物相互作用非常重要，这将通过体外/离体近红外光谱和高光谱成像研究来解决。3.用于能源应用的稀土纳米荧光粉。我们将合成和应用上转换器来收集子带隙光子，以扩大太阳能技术中应用的可用太阳能范围。该研究计划专注于设计具有优化的NIR和UPC发射，生物相容性和面向应用的表面改性的新型纳米荧光粉，完全符合uOttawa战略研究计划的材料优先级，并补充uOttawa不断增长的材料集群中正在进行和未来的努力。HQP将获得适用于材料合成，光谱学，生物成像和能量转换技术的职业生涯的宝贵知识。这种新型的稀土纳米荧光粉将在（生物）纳米技术、光子学和能源领域提供短期到中期的应用机会，极大地造福加拿大经济。

Lanthanide (Ln)-based materials are known for their optical properties, such as the upconversion (UPC) process (emission of UV/VIS light under near-infrared (NIR) excitation) and the emission of lower energy NIR light under higher energy NIR light excitation. Motivated by this, the overarching goal of the proposed research program is to develop Ln-nanophosphors as multifunctional nanocarriers for NIR-based bioimaging and energy conversion technologies, thereby addressing global challenges including societal health and energy concerns. ***In the context of bioimaging, NIR light is gaining interest due to its deeper penetration into biological tissue than UV/VIS light. Yet, there is still a need in innovative biocompatible NIR probes for high-resolution optical bioimaging beyond the millimetre range. Regarding energy concerns, upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been suggested for application in photocatalysis or photovoltaics. Yet, the low quantum yield of the UPC process is a major limitation restricting their use as attractive solar energy converters. Over the next five years, this research program, which combines materials science, chemistry, physics and biological aspects, will contribute to overcoming these obstacles. We will focus on three main themes, each with its own NIR- or UPC-related facets:***1. Development of Ln-nanophosphors as multifunctional carriers. Innovative Ln-nanophosphors for bioimaging and energy conversion will be synthesized by bottom-up chemical approaches. Size and morphology control is of vital importance for optimized optical properties. Spectral profiles will further be tuned by variation of the dopant-matrix pairs, co-dopants, and dopant concentrations.***2. Implementation into biological systems. Seeking to develop new bioprobes, the implementation of Ln-nanophosphors in biological systems and the assessment of toxicity and nano-bio-interactions are of great importance, which will be addressed by in vitro/ex vivo NIR spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging studies.***3. Ln-nanophosphors for energy applications. We will synthesize and apply upconverters to harvest sub-band gap photons in order to expand the usable solar range for application in solar technologies.***This research program, focused on the design of novel nanophosphors with optimized NIR and UPC emission, biocompatibility and application-oriented surface modification, perfectly aligns with the Materials priority of uOttawa's Strategic Research Plan and complements ongoing and future efforts in uOttawa's growing Materials Cluster. HQP will gain valuable knowledge applicable to careers in materials synthesis, spectroscopy, bioimaging, and energy conversion technologies. The novel Ln-nanophosphors will provide short to middle term application opportunities in (bio)nanotechnology, photonics, and energy; greatly benefiting the Canadian economy.