Table 4.
Applications of UCNPs in BC molecular imaging.
| Application | UCNPs | Surface modification | Size (nm) | Zeta potential (mV) | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCL imaging | NaYF4:Yb,Er | Recombi-nant scFv4D5 mini-antibody; Poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) | 120±20 | -53 | Showed specific binding and uptake to SK-BR-3 cells; Predicted UCNPs-assisted cancer detection feasible at up to 4 mm tissue depth | 206 |
| UCL imaging | NaYF4:Yb,Er | Methylene blu; Liposomes; PEG; Anti-HER2 peptides | 90±1.92 | -18.3±1.56 | Showed specific binding and uptake to SKBR-3 cells | 202 |
| UCL imaging | NaYF4:Yb,Er | Zinc tetracarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine; Trastuzumab | 23 | -14.5±4.3 | Showed specific binding and uptake to SKBR-3 cells | 216 |
| UCL imaging | NaYF4:Yb,Er | FA-PEG-poly(aspartic acid-hydrazone)-dihydrolipoic acid; Pheophorbide a | 90.3 | - | Showed specific binding and uptake to MCF-7 cells | 221 |
| UCL imaging | Y2O3:Yb,Er/Gd2O3:Yb,Er | SiO2; FA | 70/50 | - | Showed specific binding and uptake to MCF-7 cells | 220 |
| UCL imaging | Y2O3:Yb,Er | SiO2; FA | 70 | -11.8±4.30 | Showed specific binding and uptake to MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells | 219 |
| UCL imaging | NaYF4:Yb,Er | Nanoscale metal organic framework; FA | 180±20 | - | Showed specific binding and uptake to MDA-MB-468 cells | 222 |
| UCL imaging | NaYF4:Yb,Er,Tm | Arginine-glycine-aspartate; PEG | 25.8 | - | Showed specific binding and uptake to U87MG cells; Maximum binding of the material in U87MG tumors occurred at 4 hours after tail-vein injection and persisted until 24 hours; The SNR was about 24; Detected no autofluorescence signal even at 600 μm depth | 223 |
| FL imaging | NaErF4@NaYF4 | Cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp sequence-containing pentapeptide c; PEG | 61.3 | - | Showed specific binding and uptake to 4T1 cells; Imaging penetration depth 9 mm; SBR at 5 mm depth fourfold ICG; Effectively distinguished malignant from normal tissues, identified microtumors, and guided complete tumor resection during surgery | 224 |
| FL/MRI imaging | NaGdF4:Nd@NaLuF4 | PEG | 32.7 | - | The fluorescence signal peaked at 4 h post-injection, with a TBR of 8.2 at 1340 nm; The 4T1 tumor MRI signal was enhanced by 1.46-fold at 6 h post-injection | 226 |
| UCL/MRI imaging | NaGdF4:Yb,Er@NaGdF4:Yb@NaGdF4:Yb,Nd | mSiO2; Site-specific peptide; Chlorin e6 | 157.7 | 12.4 | Showed specific binding and uptake to MDA-MB-435 cells; Showed good T1-weighted MRI performance | 387 |
| UCL/MRI/CT imaging | LiLuF4:Yb,Er@nLiGdF4 | PEG; mSiO2; The Y₁ receptor ligand | 106.7 | -12.7 | Showed specific binding and uptake to MCF-7 cells; Longitudinal relaxivity far higher than traditional MRI contrast agents, showing strong T1 contrast | 228 |
| UCL/MRI/PET imaging; | NaGdF4:Yb,Tm | Red blood cell membrane; PEG; FA | 138.9 | -12.1 | Showed specific binding and uptake to 4T1 cells; UCL signal persisted ≥48 h; Enhanced tumor MRI signal | 208 |
| UCL/MRI/PET imaging | NaGdF4:Yb,Tm@NaGdF4 | MDA-MB-231 cell membrane; PEG; 18F | 200 | -10 to -20 | Showed specific binding and uptake to MDA-MB-231 cells; UCL signal persisted ≥48 h | 235 |
| UCL imaging | NaGdF4:Yb,Tm,Ca@NaLuF4 | PEG; Anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody | 137 | -0.7 | Showed specific binding and uptake to SK-BR-3 cells; Blood half-life 421 min; Tissue penetration depth 7.7 mm; Metastatic lymph nodes revealed | 238 |
| FL imaging | NaErF4@NaYF4 | PAA; Balixafortide | 18.6±0.8 | -23.41 | Fluorescence intensity stable ≥7 days in various solutions; Showed stronger optical stability (vs. ICG) under continuous laser, deeper penetration; Sentinel lymph node metastasis accurately detected | 239 |
| UCL/PET/SPECT imaging | NaGdF4:Yb,Tm@NaLuF4 | PEG; Anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody; 68Ga; 177Lu | 22.5±2.94 | 12.63 | Showed specific binding and uptake to SK-BR-3 cells; Reduced lymph node metastasis, inhibited tumor growth | 201 |
| UCL imaging | NaYF4:Gd,Yb,Er@NaYF4 | Cyanine 3; Anti-EGFR antibody; PEG; Atrix metalloproteinas 2 substrate peptide labeled with QSY7 quencher | 85.7±2.3 | 10.8±1.5 | Metastatic lymph nodes revealed | 240 |
PEG: polyethylene glycol; FA: folic acid; UCL: upconversion luminescence; FL: fluorescence; PET: positron emission tomography; SPET: single-photon emission computed tomography; CT: computed tomography; SNR: signal-to-noise ratio; SBR: signal-to-background ratio; ICG: indocyanine green; TBR: tumor-to-background ratio; PAA: polypropylene acid.