Paramagnetic, NIR ‐luminescent Nd 3+ ‐ and Gd 3+ ‐doped fluorapatite as contrast agent for multimodal biomedical imaging

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Abstract
Combining near infrared ( NIR ) luminescence and magnetic resonance ( MR ) contrasts in a crystal host is highly desirable for contrast agents in biomedical imaging technology, as it will enable multimodal imaging processes. In the present work, biocompatible luminescent and paramagnetic fluorapatite ( FA p) nanoparticles were prepared via doping with neodymium (Nd 3+ ) and gadolinium (Gd 3+ ), respectively. While Nd 3+ ‐doped FA p (Nd: FA p) exhibits dopant concentration‐dependent photoluminescence ( PL ) in the NIR spectral region, Gd 3+ ‐doped FA p (Gd: FA p) shows paramagnetic behavior and strong transverse relaxation effects resulting in MR contrastive properties. Remarkably, multimodal co‐doped FA p (Nd:Gd: FA p) nanoparticles combine both properties in 1 single crystal enabling luminescence as well as MR contrast.
Funding Information
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  • Ernst-Abbe-Stiftung

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