Table 4.
A comparative table of surface coatings on UCNPs cytotoxicity and biocompatibility
| Coating material | IC50 (μg/ml) | Cytotoxicity observations | Biocompatibility | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated UCNPs | 98.5–774.6 | High cytotoxicity; significant decrease in cell viability | Low | [5] |
| Citrate-coated UCNPs | 563.4 (20 nm) | Reduced cytotoxicity; lower fluoride release | Moderate | [5] |
| EDTMP-coated UCNPs | No cytotoxic effects | Excellent biocompatibility; minimal ion leakage | High | [5] |
| PMAO-coated UCNPs | Not specified | Noticeable cytotoxicity; morphological changes in treated cells | Moderate | [134] |
| Silica-coated UCNPs (thick) | Not specified | Lower toxicity; stability increases with shell thickness | High | [65] |
| Silica-coated UCNPs (thin) | Not specified | Higher cytotoxicity compared to thicker shells | Moderate | [65] |
| PEG-coated UCNPs | Not specified | Moderate stability; potential deformation affecting luminescence | Moderate | [11] |
| Alendronate-coated UCNPs | Not specified | Most cytotoxic due to inherent toxicity of alendronate | Low | [11] |
| PDMA-coated UCNPs | Not specified | High cellular uptake and low toxicity, suitable for cancer therapy | High | [135,136] |
| PMAO-coated UCNPs | Not specified | Low toxicity; good colloidal stability | High | [11] |
| PEG-oleate bilayer UCNPs | Significant toxicity | Toxicity due to ligand dissociation exposing hydrophobic cores | Low | [109] |