Figure 1.

(a) TEM images of as-synthesized core/shell NaYF₄:Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺@NaYF₄ UCNPs (scale bar - 100 nm) and selected area electron diffraction pattern of UCNPs on insert (scale bar - 5 nm⁻¹). (b) Schematic illustration of the rational design of multifunctional UCNP complexes: I.—step 1: PMAO hydrocarbon moiety interaction with oleate ligand on the surface of UCNP in organic solvent; PMAO self-assembly into large spherical micelles with several UCNPs intercalated in the micelle core after transfer into water; crosslinking of large spherical micelle with diamine to form stable polymer particles (UCNP–PMAO); II.—step 2: UCNP–PMAO modification with PVCL; step 3: embedding the therapeutic agents; step 4: Ag⁺ adsorption on the UCNP–PMAO–PVCL surface, followed by reduction; (c) TEM and (d) HAADF–STEM image of UCNP–PMAO–PVCL complexes. Scale bar is 500 nm; (e) HAADF–STEM image and (f) EDX elemental mapping of UCNP–PMAO–PVCL containing in situ-formed Ag NPs. Scale bar is 200 nm.