Biomimetic Upconverting Nanoplatforms for Glioblastoma Bioimaging and Targeted Therapy Glioblastoma (GB) is an aggressive and fast-progressing brain tumor with high recurrence rates and poor patient survival. Its resistance to conventional treatments and limited therapeutic options highlight the urgent need for innovative strategies to improve outcomes. In this scenario, we present a multifunctional biomimetic nanoplatform designed for targeted therapy and bioimaging of GB. The system comprises core–shell upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) coated with a mesoporous silica (UCNP@mSiO2), loaded with the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide (TMZ), and cloaked with U251 GB cell membranes (BUCNP:TMZ). The mesoporous silica shell enhances stability and drug-loading capacity, while the membrane coating improves colloidal stability, immune evasion, and homotypic targeting. The UCNP core enables real-time near-infrared (NIR) imaging under 980 nm excitation. BUCNP:TMZ exhibits an average diameter of approximately 80 nm, a TMZ encapsulation efficiency of 58.5%, and drug complete release after 4 h at pH 5.5. Cellular internalization studies demonstrated preferential uptake of BUCNP:TMZ in homologous U251 GB cells compared to nonparental U87 and nonmalignant HDFn cells. Cell-viability assays showed a concentration-dependent cytotoxic response, with BUCNP:TMZ reducing U251 viability by over 50% at 50 μg mL–1, while showing minimal toxicity toward HDFn fibroblasts. This multifunctional nanoplatform integrates targeted delivery, NIR bioimaging, and sustained drug release into a single construct, offering a promising approach for GB theranostics.

Why are nanoparticles cool? Reason #9874: you can make them "wear" cancer cell membranes to evade the immune system and deliver drugs to those nasty cancer cells! #UCNPs #upconversion

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Upconversion nanoparticles are as tough as nails - you can even use them to tag explosives, as set out in this paper by the group of Hirsch! #UCNPs #upconversion

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Efficient Ultraviolet and Violet Upconversion Emissions in Highly Er3+-Doped Nanoparticles under 660 nm Excitation Ultraviolet- and violet-emitting upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are promising for applications in photobiology, photochemistry, solid-state lasing, and energy storage. However, their use has been ...

Interesting to see fairly efficient 660 nm (red) to 380 nm (UV) photonic upconversion in #UCNPs. I wonder if it will work in water?

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Just realized that an analogy for quantum superfluorescence in #upconversion nanoparticles is a like bag of microwave popcorn where every kernel pops nearly simultaneously, instead of individually over minutes! 🍿

#ucnps #photonics #chemsky

Sub-10 nm upconversion nanocrystals for long-term single-particle tracking - Nature Communications This study presents ultrasmall, bright lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles that overcome surface quenching, enabling high spatiotemporal resolution tracking of membrane proteins with exception...

Congrats to @molecularfoundry.lbl.gov users Yunxiang Zhang and Qian Liu for their latest work in @natcomms.nature.com: "Sub-10 nm upconversion nanocrystals for long-term single-particle tracking." doi.org/10.1038/s414.... w/ Chan group postdoc Xiaojing Xia on on the kinetic Monte Carlo #KMC #UCNPs

Come work with @emorychannano.bsky.social and me!
#robotics #nanochemistry #machinelearning #UCNPs

Chan Group @ Molecular Foundry - openings The Chan group welcomes inquiries for motivated, creative, and independent researchers at all levels (postdoctoral fellow, graduate students, undergraduates, and visitors), even in the absence of post...

We have a postdoc opening w/ @samblau.bsky.social
on the autonomous synthesis of colloidal upconverting nanoparticles.

If you're looking for an exciting postdoc combining #robotics, #nanochemistry, #machinelearning, #UCNPs & simulations, see the link below!

combinano.lbl.gov/openings

Superfluorescent upconversion nanoparticles as an emerging second generation quantum technology material Superfluorescence in upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) is a room-temperature quantum phenomenon which can dramatically increase the rate and overall quantity of photons emitted by neodymium (Nd3+) do...

New #preprint: setting out how superfluorescence of upconversion nanoparticles can be considered a quantum technology.

#chemsky #physics #optics #arxiv #ucnps

arxiv.org/abs/2412.12891