AUTHOR=Xu Danyang , Li Chenxu , Li Wenjing , Lin Bi , Lv Ruichan 

TITLE=Recent advances in lanthanide-doped up-conversion probes for theranostics

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2023.1036715

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2023.1036715

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=<p>Up-conversion (or anti-Stokes) luminescence refers to the phenomenon whereby materials emit high energy, short-wavelength light upon excitation at longer wavelengths. Lanthanide-doped up-conversion nanoparticles (Ln-UCNPs) are widely used in biomedicine due to their excellent physical and chemical properties such as high penetration depth, low damage threshold and light conversion ability. Here, the latest developments in the synthesis and application of Ln-UCNPs are reviewed. First, methods used to synthesize Ln-UCNPs are introduced, and four strategies for enhancing up-conversion luminescence are analyzed, followed by an overview of the applications in phototherapy, bioimaging and biosensing. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of Ln-UCNPs are summarized.</p>