Functionalized YVO4:Eu3+ nanophosphors with desirable properties for biomedical applications

Abstract

Highly luminescent nanophosphors (NPs) containing rare earth (RE) ions were successfully prepared by careful control of nanosynthesis. The YVO4:Eu3+ NPs formed core/shell structures with sizes from 10 nm to 25 nm. The NPs were functionalized with biocompatible groups such as OH, NH2 and SCN. A chemical coupling reaction connected the functionalized YVO4:Eu3+ NPs with Biotin via a direct reaction between the functional groups or an intermediate linker. Under UVIS excitation, YVO4:Eu3+ NPs exhibited strong red luminescence with narrow bands corresponding to the intra 4f transitions of D05–Fj7 (j = 1, 2, 3, 4) Eu3+. The peaks were found at 594 nm (D05–F17), 619 nm (D05–F27), 652 nm (D05–F37) and 702 nm (D05–F47) with the strongest emission at 619 nm. The fluorescence intensity and stability of the functionalized YVO4:Eu3+ NPs have been increased. This is a promising result in sense of using the conjugates of YVO4:Eu3+ and a bioactive molecule, Biotin for the development of a fluorescent label tool in biomedical analysis.

Keywords

• YVO4:Eu3+
• Nanophosphors
• Fluorescent label
• Functionalization
• Conjugation