Modern nanotechnology increasingly demands multifunctional nanomaterials, motivating rational core-shell designs to integrate diverse capabilities within a single nanostructure. Herein, core-shell-shell structured NaYF4:20%Yb3+@NaErF4:0.5%Tm3+@NaGdF4:20%Yb3+ nanoparticles are developed through a layer-by-layer epitaxial growth strategy. The key novelty of this synthesis lies in the precise spatial organization of functional ions: an inner core and an outer shell rich in Yb3+ sensitizers collaboratively pump a central energymigrating erbium sublattice. This unique architecture exhibits intense red upconversion luminescence under 980 nm excitation while enabling multimodal nanothermometry and dual-modal bioimaging (optical imaging and T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging). Aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (ACTEM) and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) analyses confirm the precise layered architecture and high crystallinity. Significantly, the outer thin shell induces anomalous thermal enhancement at 544 nm. This phenomenon is governed by a shell-thickness-mediated energy migration process, which modulates the interaction between the erbium sublattice and surface ligands, thereby facilitating enhanced performance in multimodal nanothermometry. HAADF-STEM provides direct visualization of shell thickness variations, offering mechanistic evidence for this phenomenon. Crucially, dual-modal bioimaging capability is validated in vivo. This core-shell design strategy advances the development of multifunctional nanoparticles for nanothermometry and bioimaging applications.
基金:
Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Open Fund [2023ROKF05]; Hainan Provincial Joint Project of Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone [124LALH013]
第一作者机构:[1]Univ Elect Sci & Technol China, Sch Phys, Chengdu 611731, Peoples R China
通讯作者:
通讯机构:[1]Univ Elect Sci & Technol China, Sch Phys, Chengdu 611731, Peoples R China[6]Univ Elect Sci & Technol China, Glasgow Coll Hainan, Lingshui 572400, Peoples R China
推荐引用方式(GB/T 7714):
Song Ruitong,Yan Sen,Liu Shunju,et al.Shell-thickness-mediated anomalous thermal enhancement of core-shell-shell structured nanoparticles for nanothermometry and dual-mode bioimaging[J].JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE.2026,704:doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2025.139416.
APA:
Song, Ruitong,Yan, Sen,Liu, Shunju,Liu, Qiuhan,Li, Jiayao...&Fu, Hao.(2026).Shell-thickness-mediated anomalous thermal enhancement of core-shell-shell structured nanoparticles for nanothermometry and dual-mode bioimaging.JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE,704,
MLA:
Song, Ruitong,et al."Shell-thickness-mediated anomalous thermal enhancement of core-shell-shell structured nanoparticles for nanothermometry and dual-mode bioimaging".JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE 704.(2026)