Vis-NIR luminescent lanthanide-doped core-shell nanoparticles for imaging and photodynamic therapy

The preparation of smart Ln:ZrO2@SiO2 nanoplatforms with grafted photosensitizer (Rose Bengal) which couple optical imaging with photo-dynamic therapy (PDT) is presented. A careful control of the lanthanide dopant loading is considered to enhance the photoemission properties of the lanthanide ions (Er, Pr, Yb) inside the ZrO2 crystal structure. The nanosystem with the lowest lanthanide loading maintains the size, phase and morphology of pristine ZrO2 nanoparticles and exhibit the best performances in term of the overall luminescence properties. Upon functionalization with a silica shell to covalently bound Rose Bengal, a theranostic platform is prepared which is very efficient in singlet oxygen generation, as demonstrated by EPR and UV–vis spectroscopy studies. Preliminary cell viability tests show that while both pristine and Ln doped ZrO2 nanoparticles do not exert cytotoxicity, neither upon illumination nor in dark condition, Rose Bengal grafted samples are able to significantly reduce cell viability under light exposure, thus confirming the high potential of these nanoparticles as PDT tools.