Ratiometric nanothermometer in vivo based on triplet sensitized upconversion

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 2698 - 7
• Main Authors: Xu, Ming, Zou, Xianmei, Su, Qianqian, Yuan, Wei, Cao, Cong, Wang, Qiuhong, Zhu, Xingjun, Feng, Wei, Li, Fuyou
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 12.07.2018; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Body temperature; Body Temperature - physiology; Calibration; Fluorides - chemistry; Humans; Inflammation - physiopathology; Luminescent Measurements - methods; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - ultrastructure; Mice; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Nanophosphors; Neodymium - chemistry; Physiology; Reproducibility of Results; Temperature dependence; Temperature effects; Thermometers; Thermometry - instrumentation; Thermometry - methods; Upconversion; Yttrium - chemistry
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05160-1

Temperature is an essential factor that counts for living systems where complicated vital activities are usually temperature dependent. In vivo temperature mapping based on non-contact optical approach will be beneficial for revealing the physiological phenomena behind with minimized influence to the organism. Herein, a highly thermal-sensitive upconversion system based on triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) mechanism is pioneered to indicate body temperature variation sensitively over the physiological temperature range. The temperature-insensitive NaYF : Nd nanophosphors with NIR emission was incorporated into the temperature-responsive TTA-upconversion system to serve as an internal calibration unit. Consequently, a ratiometric thermometer capable of accurately monitoring the temperature changes in vivo was developed with high thermal sensitivity (~7.1% K ) and resolution (~0.1 K).