Near-Infrared-Sensitive Materials Based on Upconverting Nanoparticles.

Wu, Si; Butt, Hans-Jürgen · Adv Mater · 2016

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The near-infrared (NIR) region of the spectrum is called the "therapeutic window" because NIR light can penetrate deeply into tissue. Therefore, NIR-sensitive materials are attractive for biomedical applications. Recently, upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) were used to construct NIR-sensitive materials. UCNPs convert NIR light to UV or visible light, which can trigger photoreactions of photosensitive materials. Here, how to use UCNPs to construct NIR-sensitive materials is introduced, applications of NIR-sensitive materials with a focus on biomedical applications are highlighted, and the associated challenges are discussed.