Design and structural investigations of Yb3+ substituted beta-Ca-3(PO4)(2) contrast agents for bimodal NIR luminescence and X-ray CT imaging

作者：Meenambal Rugmani; Kannan S^*

来源：Materials Science and Engineering: C , 2018, 91: 817-823.

DOI：10.1016/j.msec.2018.06.032

• Ytterbium
• beta-Ca-3(PO4)(2)
• Substitutions
• Luminescence
• Computed tomography

The quest for the development of bone substitutes with contrast agents for diagnostic imaging subsists to distinguish synthetic bone from native human tissue. To this aim, ytterbium (Yb3+) substitutions in beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-Ca-3(PO4)(2), beta-TCP) as contrast agents has been developed to differentiate implant materials thereby, facilitating as host for bimodal imaging application by means of NIR luminescence and X-ray computed tomography techniques. A facile aqueous chemical precipitation route with the aid of surfactant is used for the synthesis of Yb3+ substitutions in beta-Ca-3(PO4)(2). The characterization results affirms the ability of beta-Ca-3(PO4)(2) to host 4.36 mol% of Yb3+ while the excess Yb3+ crystallizes as YbPO4. The structure refinement results favour the occupancy of Yb3+ at the Ca2+(5) site of beta-Ca-3(PO4)(2). The absorption and photoluminescence spectra in the near infrared region with emission intensity similar to 1024 nm in the second biological window correspond to F-2(5/2) -> F-2(7/2) transitions of Yb3+. The designed Yb3+ substituted beta-Ca-3(PO4)(2) does not exhibit any toxicity in human osteosarcoma cell lines and delivers an excellent in vitro CT contrast ability allied by the enhanced signal intensity and high X-ray absorption coefficient.

• 出版日期2018-10-1