Dual-color fluorescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging of Gd2O3:Dy3+ nanoparticles synthesized by laser ablation in water

Multimodal imaging has attracted tremendous attention in biotechnology and nanomedicine applications. Monoclinic Gd2O3:Dy3+ nanoparticles (NPs) with dual-color fluorescence imaging (FI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been successfully synthesized by employing laser ablation in liquid (LAL) technique. The synthesized nanoparticles can be used as yellow fluorescence nanoprobe as well as blue ones due to their sharp and strong yellow and blue emissions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurement shows that the longitudinal relaxivity (r1) of the Gd2O3:1%Dy3+NPs is 4.5 times higher than that of the commercial Gd-DTPA. The experiment of in vitro cell fluorescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging of female Balb/c mouse indicates that the Gd2O3:Dy3+ NPs synthesized by LAL technique are promising candidates of dual-color FI nanoprobe and MRI contrast agent in further clinical applications.