Small and Bright Water-Protected Upconversion Nanoparticles with Long-Time Stability in Complex, Aqueous Media by Phospholipid Membrane Coating

Chemical and colloidal stability in complex aqueous media are among the main challenges preventing nanoparticles from successfully entering into the biomedical field. Small core-shell upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) NaYF₄:Yb,Er@NaYF₄ of 12 nm in diameter with a high surface-to-volume ratio are utilized to demonstrate that self-assembling phospholipid bilayers (PLMs) have several benefits compared to common ligand-exchange and ligand-addition particle coatings such as poly(acrylic acid) and amphiphilic polymers. An efficient hydrophobic barrier against water quenching and toward particle disintegration is formed by PLM. Particles with this functionalization have a higher upconversion luminescence in aqueous media in contrast to common surface ligands. They attract with better colloidal stability in phosphate buffer, in a wide pH range, in high ionic solutions, and in complex cell media, as is required for biological applications. Moreover, kidney cells (NRK) are not affected by these stable PLM-coated UCNPs as first cell viability tests reveal.