PMAO coated Na(Gd0.5Lu0.5)F4:Nd3+ nanocrystals as multifunctional contrast agent with NIR optical, X-ray and magnetic imaging properties.

Nanomaterials with multiple imaging functionalities are nowadays getting tremendous attention due to their several superior features compared to existing contrast agents. By developing a nanomaterial that exhibit multiple functionalities, the possibility to increase the amount of imaging information obtained in a short amount of time is becoming more and more a reality. In this work, we developed a multifunctional nanocrystals (NCs), Na(Gd0.5Lu0.5)F4:Nd3+, that combines multiple rare-earth features as an all-in-one imaging agent comprised of optical imaging, magnetic imaging, and X-ray imaging by utilizing the superparamagnetic features of Gd3+, the high X-ray absorption cross section of Lu3+, and the NIR fluorescence of Nd3+. Morphology, optical properties, and cell viability are shown in detail where the utility of this multifunctional imaging agent was confirmed by optical, X-ray and magnetic imaging experiments. Surface functionalization of the NCs is also presented to highlight the potential application of the NCs as contrast agents in biological imaging.