Dual-modal imaging and excellent anticancer efficiency of cisplatin and doxorubicin loaded NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles

NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles were synthesized via a modified hydrothermal route. The dependence of structure and morphology on the dosage of sodium polyacrylate was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The as-prepared nanoparticles could be used for T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging due to the paramagnetism of Gd3+. cis-dichlorodiamineplatinum (CDDP) could be loaded onto NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles through binding carboxyl in the form of Pt–O bonds, and doxorubicin (DOX) could be loaded via hydrogen bonding. DOX could also be loaded onto the NaGdF4–CDDP composite in the same manner, and the loading efficiency of both drugs remained unchanged. Three as-prepared drug delivery systems were used for tumor inhibition both in vitro and in vivo, and the results indicated that NaGdF4–CDDP–DOX displayed the greatest inhibitory capacity.