Controlling Electron Trap Depth To Enhance Optical Properties of Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticles for In Vivo Imaging

Focusing on the use of nanophosphors for in vivo imaging and diagnosis applications, we used thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) measurements to study the influence of trivalent lanthanide Ln3+ (Ln = Dy, Pr, Ce, Nd) electron traps on the optical properties of Mn2+-doped diopside-based persistent luminescence nanoparticles. This work reveals that Pr3+ is the most suitable Ln3+ electron trap in the diopside lattice, providing optimal trap depth for room temperature afterglow and resulting in the most intense luminescence decay curve after X-ray irradiation. This luminescence dependency toward the electron trap is maintained through additional doping with Eu2+, allowing UV-light excitation, critical for bioimaging applications in living animals. We finally identify a novel composition (CaMgSi2O6:Eu2+,Mn2+,Pr3+) for in vivo imaging, displaying a strong near-infrared afterglow centered on 685 nm, and present evidence that intravenous injection of such persistent luminescence nanoparticles in mice allows not only improved but highly sensitive detection through living tissues.