Surface-Doped Zinc Gallate Colloidal Nanoparticles Exhibit pH-Dependent Radioluminescence with Enhancement in Acidic Media.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 37399282.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c01363 and PMC identifier 10375584.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
As abnormal acidic pH symbolizes dysfunctions of cells, it is highly desirable to develop pH-sensitive luminescent materials for diagnosing disease and imaging-guided therapy using high-energy radiation. Herein, we explored near-infrared-emitting Cr-doped zinc gallate ZnGa<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles (NPs) in colloidal solutions with different pH levels under X-ray excitation. Ultrasmall NPs were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method by controlling the addition of ammonium hydroxide precursor and reaction time, and structural characterization revealed Cr dopants on the surface of NPs. The synthesized NPs exhibited different photoluminescence and radioluminescence mechanisms, confirming the surface distribution of activators. It was observed that the colloidal NPs emit pH-dependent radioluminescence in a linear relationship, and the enhancement reached 4.6-fold when pH = 4 compared with the colloidal NPs in the neutral solution. This observation provides a strategy for developing new biomaterials by engineering activators on the nanoparticle surfaces for potential pH-sensitive imaging and imaging-guided therapy using high-energy radiation.