Erythrocyte aggregation stimulated by NaYF4:Er3+,Yb3+ upconversion nanoparticles

When administered into the bloodstream, upconversion nanoparticles used in therapeutic / diagnostic purposes can affect red blood cells. In this work, using light optical microscopy, we show that the removal of citrate groups from the surface of NaYF4: Er3+ , Yb3+ nanoparticles synthesized by the hydrothermal method prevents the formation of large clod-like aggregates from a suspension of washed rat erythrocytes incubated with the nanoparticles. However, the tendency toward a change in cell shape with an increase in nanoparticles concentration is still manifested.