Microwave-assisted synthesis of europium-doped calcium fluoride nanoparticles for potential biomedical applications

WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Aaron Davis Lipchak (Creator)
Institution
Western Carolina University (WCU )
Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
Advisor
Channa De Silva

Abstract: Europium (E+ ) metal-based nanomaterials have potential applications in optical and electro-luminescent devices, bio-analytical sensors, and biomedical assay technologies. E+ metal ions are of particular interest in biological assays due to their long luminescent lifetimes and nearly monochromatic emission at 614 nm. E+ ions require sensitization by a suitable chromophore since 4f-4f electronic transitions are forbidden by the Laporte selection rule. Relative to well-researched lanthanide-doped matrices such as NaYand LaF3 , lanthanide-doped Cananoparticles have been shown to have promise as an imaging agent due to greater luminescent yields and high biocompatibility. In this work, we report the progress towards the optimization of anaqueous microwave synthetic method for the production of nanosized lanthanide-doped Ca particles, the surface-functionalization of E+ -doped Caparticles with a suitable chromophore, and luminescent quantum yield studies of these particles. Synthesis of lanthanide-doped Cananoparticles and the coating of them with a chromophore ligand to increase their luminescent quantum yield was successful. High-quality product may be obtained with low size dispersion anywhere in the range of 30-1000 nm. Characterization of coated nanoparticle product including the morphology, composition, and quantum yield studies were successful. The highest quantum yield reported was 1.53 +/- 0.41 %. Future work includes the optimization of the coating procedure to maximize luminescent quantum yield and in vitro imaging studies using epifluorescence microscopy.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2019
Keywords
biomedicine, calcium fluoride, microwave, nanomaterials
Subjects
Calcium fluoride -- Synthesis
Calcium compounds -- Optical properties
Nanoparticles -- Synthesis
Nanoparticles -- Optical properties

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