Folic acid-mediated enhancement of the diagnostic potential of luminescent europium-doped hydroxyapatite nanocrystals for cancer biomaging

Early and accurate cancer diagnosis is crucial for improving patient survival rates. Luminescent nanoparticles have emerged as a promising tool in fluorescence bioimaging for cancer diagnosis. To enhance diagnostic accuracy, ligands promoting endocytosis into cancer cells are commonly incorporated onto nanoparticle surfaces. Folic acid (FA) is one such ligand, known to specifically bind to folate receptors (FR) overexpressed in various cancer cells such as cervical and ovarian carcinoma. Therefore, surface modification of luminescent nanoparticles with FA can enhance both luminescence efficiency and diagnostic accuracy. In this study, luminescent europium-doped hydroxyapatite (EuHAp) nanocrystals were prepared via hydrothermal method and subsequently modified with (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) followed by FA to target FR-positive human cervical adenocarcinoma cell line (HeLa) cells. The sequential grafting of APTES and then FA formed a robust covalent linkage between the nanocrystals and FA. Rod-shaped FA-modified EuHAp nanocrystals, approximately 100 nm in size, exhibited emission peaks at 589, 615, and 650 nm upon excitation at 397 nm. Despite a reduction in photoluminescence intensity following FA modification, fluorescence microscopy revealed a remarkable 120-fold increase in intensity compared to unmodified EuHAp, attributed to the enhanced uptake of FA-modified EuHAp. Additionally, confocal microscope observations confirmed the specificity and the internalization of FA-modified EuHAp nanocrystals in HeLa cells. In conclusion, the modification of EuHAp nanocrystals with FA presents a promising strategy to enhance the diagnostic potential of cancer bioimaging probes.

Biocompatible, Europium-Doped Fluorapatite Nanoparticles as a Wide-Range pH Sensor

The development of a simple, biocompatible, pH sensor with a wide range of detection, using a single fluorescent probe is highly important in the medical field for the early detection of diseases related to the pH change of tissues and body fluids. For this purpose, europium-doped fluorapatite (FAP: Eu) nanoparticles were synthesized using the coprecipitation method. Doping with the rare earth element europium (Eu) makes the non-luminescent phosphate mineral fluorapatite, luminescent. The luminous response of the sample upon dissolution in hydrochloric acid (HCl), in highly acidic to weakly basic media, makes it a potential pH sensor. A linear variation was observed with an increase in pH, in both the total intensity of emission and the R-value or the asymmetry ratio. The ratiometric pH sensing enabled by the variation in R-value makes the sensor independent of external factors. The structural, optical, and photoluminescent (PL) lifetime analysis suggests a particle size-dependent pH sensing mechanism with the changes in the coordinated water molecules around the Eu3+ ion in the nanoparticle. Given its exceptional biocompatibility and pH-dependent fluorescence intensity for a wide range of pH from 0.83 to 8.97, the probe can be used as a potential candidate for pH sensing of biological fluid.

Recent Progress of Rare Earth Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles: Luminescence Properties, Synthesis and Biomedical Applications

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAP NPs) are host materials and can be modified with various substrates and dopants. Among them, rare earth (RE) ions doped HAP NPs have gathered attention due to their unique physicochemical and imaging properties. Compared to other fluorescence probes, RE-doped HAP NPs display advantages in high brightness, high contrast, photostability, nonblinking, and narrow emission bands. Meanwhile, their intrinsic features (composition, morphology, size, crystallinity, and luminescence intensity) can be adjusted by changing the dopant ratio, synthesizing temperature, reaction time, and techniques. And they have been used in various biomedical applications, including imaging probe, drug delivery, bone tissue engineering, and antibacterial studies. This review surveys the luminescent properties, fluorescence enhancement, synthetic methods, and biocompatibility of various RE-doped HAP NPs consolidated from different research works, for their employments in biomedical applications. For this literature review, an electronic search was conducted in the Pubmed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus and SciFinder databases, using the keywords: hydroxyapatite, rare earth, lanthanide, fluorescence, and imaging. Literature searches of English-language publications from 1979 with updates through April, 2022, and a total of 472 potential papers were identified. In addition, a few references were located by noting their citation in other studies reviewed. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAP NPs) have a broad range of promising biological applications. Although prospective biomedical applications are not limited to rare earth-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (RE-doped HAP NPs), some cases do make use of the distinctive features of RE-elements to achieve the expected functions for HAP families. This review surveys the luminescent properties, synthetic methods, and biocompatibility of various RE-doped HAP NPs consolidated from different research works, for their employments in biomedical applications, including imaging probe, drug delivery, bone tissue repair and tracking, and anti-bacteria. Overall, we expect to shed some light on broadening the research and application of RE-doped HAP NPs in biomedical field.

Calotropis Gigantea Fiber-A Biogenic Reinforcement Material for Europium Substituted Hydroxyapatite/Poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) Matrix: A Novel Ternary Composite for Biomedical Applications

Novel multifunctional biocomposite materials that mimic the properties of bone are the need of the hour. In view of this, the current work is focused on the fabrication of a snail shells derived europium-substituted hydroxyapatite (Eu-HAP)/poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) (PProDOT)/Calotropis gigantea fiber (CGF) ternary composite on titanium (Ti) for biomedical applications. The structural, morphological, mechanical, electrochemical, and biological properties of the as-developed coatings on Ti were characterized. The obtained results clearly confirmed the formation and properties of the ternary composite (Eu-HAP/PProDOT/CGF). The presence of CGF, an exceptional reinforcement material, in the ternary composite is proven to improve mechanical and biological properties compared to other coatings (i.e., coating without CGF). Also, electrochemical studies revealed better anticorrosion properties of the composite-coated Ti in a simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. Similarly, the presence of Eu-HAP and PProDOT in the composite is clearly evident from the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) and also by the cell proliferation and cell adhesion by the MTT assay test. Thus, we suggest that the fabricated Eu-HAP/PProDOT/CGF ternary composite with mechanical, corrosion resistance, and biocompatible properties might be an appropriate candidate for biomedical applications.

Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy Mediated by Metal Phosphorus-Based Nanomaterials

Metal phosphorus-based nanomaterials (Metal-P NMs) including metal phosphate nanomaterials, metal phosphide nanomaterials, and metal-black phosphorus (Metal-BP) nanocomposite are widely used in the field of biomedicine owing to their excellent physical and chemical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In recent years, metal phosphate nanomaterials and Metal-BP nanocomposite acted as medicine delivery system have made breakthroughs in tumor diagnosis including magnetic resonance imaging, fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, nuclear imaging, and therapies including chemotherapy, gene therapy, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, and radiation therapy. Metal phosphate nanomaterials have good biodegradability, especially calcium-based metal phosphate nanomaterials can be dissolved into nontoxic ions and participate in the metabolisms of normal organs. Compared with metal phosphate nanomaterials, metal phosphide nanomaterials have excellent optical, magnetic, and catalytic properties, which can be used as multifunctional diagnostic nanoplatforms and therapeutic agents for chemodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, or immunotherapy. The latest developments in Metal-P NMs, covering the range of preparation methods and biological applications, such as serving as drug carriers, tumor diagnosis, and therapy, are focused. All in all, the current trends, key issues, future prospects and challenges of Metal-P NMs are concluded and discussed, which are important for the development of this research field and shining more lights on this direction.

Eggshell Derived Europium Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles for Cell Imaging Application

Hen's eggshell, a biological waste product, was turned into a cell imaging probe: europium doped hydroxyapatite (HAp: Eu) nanoparticle using hydrothermal method. Luminescence of the synthesized nanoparticle was studied for various doping concentrations of the lanthanide ion europium (Eu³⁺). Eu doped HAp showed a hexagonal crystal structure and rod-shaped morphology. Well-defined emission peaks of europium, corresponding to the substitution of Eu³⁺ at the Ca²⁺(I) site of HAp, were confirmed from the samples' photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Good biocompatibility up to 500 μg/mL of the samples indicates their potential applications in bioimaging. Synthesized nanoparticles were internalized and used for in vitro imaging of the PC12 cells without any surface modification. The materials' use as a potential in vivo imaging agent is proposed from the haemolysis study.

Europium-Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanorods: Influence of Silver Doping

In this work, we report the influence of silver nanoparticles of different size on the optical behavior of the europium-doped hydroxyapatite nanorods. The presence of ionic, plasmonically visible and silent (ultra-small) silver nanoparticles on the surface of europium-doped apatite and its influence on its luminescent behavior were discussed. It was found that ionic silver exhibited a concentration-dependent enhancement in emission at the excitation of europium. For plasmonically visible and silent silver nanoparticles, the emission observed was due to the contribution of the ligand passivating the europium-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticle surface. These nanoparticles due to its luminescent and biocompatible nature can be used for bioimaging applications.

Calcium-based biomaterials for diagnosis, treatment, and theranostics

Calcium-based biomaterials with good biosafety and bio-absorbability are promising for biomedical applications such as diagnosis, treatment, and theranostics.

In-vitro biocompatibility, bioactivity and photoluminescence properties of Eu3+ /Sr2+ dual-doped nano-hydroxyapatite for biomedical applications

In the present investigation, we have successfully synthesized luminescent Eu³⁺ -doped and Eu³⁺ /Sr²⁺ codoped hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles through sol-gel assisted precipitation method with the aim of developing novel biomaterials containing osteoblast mineral (Sr²⁺ ) and luminescence activator (Eu³⁺ ). The structure, morphology, thermal stability, and luminescence properties of the resultant spherical nanoparticles (50-100 nm diameters) were studied. Moreover, the in-vitro bioactivity of Eu_0.1 Sr_0.1 HA nanoparticles was investigated by immersing in the simulated body fluid for many weeks. The antimicrobial activity results against gram positive and gram negative bacterial stains, showed better resistivity for the Eu_0.1 Sr_0.1 HA among the other compositions. The MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay of live/dead cells cultured with Eu³⁺ /Sr²⁺ -doped HA nanoparticles retained its normal morphology and did not show a significant impact on cell proliferation at various incubation days, which evidence for the material's superior biocompatible nature even at a higher concentration of 375 µg/mL. Thus, the incorporation of dual ions in HA nanoparticles with strong luminescence properties develops potential biomaterial for live cell imaging and in nanomedicine. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2191-2201, 2018.

Facile synthesis and the phase transition mechanism of fluoridated hydroxyapatite with a hierarchical architecture

The crystal growth process of FHA is investigated. The crystal orientation relationship is found to be [010]_FHA//[001]_DCPA and (001)_FHA//(010)_DCPA.

Upconversion luminescence enhancement and temperature sensing behavior of F− co-doped Ba3Lu4O9:Er3+/Yb3+ phosphors

F⁻ doping to enhance upconversion luminescence and temperature sensitivity of Ba₃Lu₄O₉:Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ (EYBLO) phosphors is ascribed to the modification of local crystal field of activator ions and reduction of crystal site symmetry.

Controlling the strontium-doping in calcium phosphate microcapsules through yeast-regulated biomimetic mineralization

Yeast cells have controllable biosorption on metallic ions during metabolism. However, few studies were dedicated to using yeast-regulated biomimetic mineralization process to control the strontium-doped positions in calcium phosphate microcapsules. In this study, the yeast cells were allowed to pre-adsorb strontium ions metabolically and then served as sacrificing template for the precipitation and calcination of mineral shell. The pre-adsorption enabled the microorganism to enrich of strontium ions into the inner part of the microcapsules, which ensured a slow-release profile of the trace element from the microcapsule. The co-culture with human marrow stromal cells showed that gene expressions of alkaline phosphatase and Collagen-I were promoted. The promotion of osteogenic differentiation was further confirmed in the 3D culture of cell-material complexes. The strategy using living microorganism as 'smart doping apparatus' to control incorporation of trace element into calcium phosphate paved a pathway to new functional materials for hard tissue regeneration.

Dextran-coated fluorapatite nanorods doped with lanthanides in labelling and directing osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

A novel approach for labelling and tracking BMSCs in bone tissue engineering by using dextran-coated fluorapatite nanorods doped with lanthanides.