Flexible X-ray luminescence imaging enabled by cerium-sensitized nanoscintillators
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed a class of cerium (Ce3+)-sensitized core-shell nanoscintillators that are suitable for achieving flexible X-ray luminescence imaging.
About: This article is published in Journal of Luminescence.The article was published on 2022-02-01 and is currently open access. It has received 5 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Luminescence & Radioluminescence.
Citations
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TL;DR: X-ray luminescence is an optical phenomenon in which chemical compounds known as scintillators can emit short-wavelength light upon the excitation of X-ray photons as mentioned in this paper .
Abstract: ConspectusX-ray luminescence is an optical phenomenon in which chemical compounds known as scintillators can emit short-wavelength light upon the excitation of X-ray photons. Since X-rays exhibit well-recognized advantages of deep penetration toward tissues and a minimal autofluorescence background in biological samples, X-ray luminescence has been increasingly becoming a promising optical tool for tackling the challenges in the fields of imaging, biosensing, and theragnostics. In recent years, the emergence of nanocrystal scintillators have further expanded the application scenarios of X-ray luminescence, such as high-resolution X-ray imaging, autofluorescence-free detection of biomarkers, and noninvasive phototherapy in deep tissues. Meanwhile, X-ray luminescence holds great promise in breaking the depth dependency of deep-seated lesion treatment and achieving synergistic radiotherapy with phototherapy.In this Account, we provide an overview of recent advances in developing advanced X-ray luminescence for applications in imaging, biosensing, theragnostics, and optogenetics neuromodulation. We first introduce solution-processed lead halide all-inorganic perovskite nanocrystal scintillators that are able to convert X-ray photons to multicolor X-ray luminescence. We have developed a perovskite nanoscintillator-based X-ray detector for high-resolution X-ray imaging of the internal structure of electronic circuits and biological samples. We further advanced the development of flexible X-ray luminescence imaging using solution-processable lanthanide-doped nanoscintillators featuring long-lived X-ray luminescence to image three-dimensional irregularly shaped objects. We also outline the general principles of high-contrast in vivo X-ray luminescence imaging which combines nanoscintillators with functional biomolecules such as aptamers, peptides, and antibodies. High-quality X-ray luminescence nanoprobes were engineered to achieve the high-sensitivity detection of various biomarkers, which enabled the avoidance of interference from the biological matrix autofluorescence and photon scattering. By marrying X-ray luminescence probes with stimuli-responsive materials, multifunctional theragnostic nanosystems were constructed for on-demand synergistic gas radiotherapy with excellent therapeutic effects. By taking advantage of the capability of X-rays to penetrate the skull, we also demonstrated the development of controllable, wireless optogenetic neuromodulation using X-ray luminescence probes while obviating damage from traditional optical fibers. Furthermore, we discussed in detail some challenges and future development of X-ray luminescence in terms of scintillator synthesis and surface modification, mechanism studies, and their other potential applications to provide useful guidance for further advancing the development of X-ray luminescence.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a new TTI route based on the light storage effect in persistent luminescent (PersL) materials is proposed, which is designed on account of the principle that the release rate of light-induced trapped carriers in PersL materials is closely dependent on the storage time and temperature, enabling to establish a correlation between the number of residual carriers and the freshness of perishable products.
Abstract: Time–temperature indicator (TTI) technologies allow for nondestructive and real‐time quality management of perishable products during the entire transport–storage process, which provides an important guarantee for the product safety of end users. However, the existing TTI technologies still have shortcomings in recyclability, sensitivity, and environmental tolerance, limiting their widespread applications. Herein, a new TTI route based on the light storage effect in persistent luminescent (PersL) materials is proposed. Such TTI is designed on account of the principle that the release rate of light‐induced trapped carriers in PersL materials is closely dependent on the storage time and temperature, enabling to establish a correlation between the number of residual carriers and the freshness of perishable products. Taking KZnF3:Mn2+ as a model material, the light‐storage‐based TTI technology shows excellent recyclability, reliability, and environmental stability. This work reveals great potentials of PersL phosphors as information recording materials in advanced TTI application and next‐generation biological detection technology.
3 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , a class of tetradecagonal CuI microcrystals were developed as highly stable, eco-friendly, and low-cost scintillators that exhibit intense radioluminescence under X-ray irradiation.
Abstract: Solution-processed scintillators hold great promise in fabrication of low-cost X-ray detectors. However, state of the art of these scintillators is still challenging in their environmental toxicity and instability. In this study, we develop a class of tetradecagonal CuI microcrystals as highly stable, eco-friendly, and low-cost scintillators that exhibit intense radioluminescence under X-ray irradiation. The red broadband emission is attributed to the recombination of self-trapped excitons in CuI microcrystals. We demonstrate the incorporation of such CuI microscintillator into a flexible polymer to fabricate an X-ray detector for high-resolution imaging with a spatial resolution up to 20 line pairs per millimeter (lp mm−1), which enables sharp image effects by attaching the flexible imaging detectors onto curved object surfaces.
TL;DR: Recently, metal halides (MH) flexible X-ray detectors have attracted remarkable research interest owing to their great potential for nonplanar imaging, which can eliminate imaging ghosting caused by the misfit between the detector and the object as discussed by the authors .
Abstract: Recently, metal halides (MH) flexible X‐ray detectors have attracted remarkable research interest owing to their great potential for non‐planar imaging, which can eliminate imaging ghosting caused by the misfit between the detector and the object. In this review, recent progress in flexible X‐ray detectors, including advanced optimized techniques of MH and novel flexible substrate structures, is summarized. In addition, the main photoelectric property characterizations are depicted along with their detailed physical meaning and analytical methods. To conclude, the existing vital gap between development status and commercial requirements and the corresponding optimization research directions is also covered.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors explored the X-ray images to determine the severity of pear freezing injury and revealed the mechanism of Xray variation caused by freezing injury, which was conducive to determining the freezing time and temperature for the purpose of preservation, reducing storage cost and optimizing long distance refrigerated transportation.
References
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TL;DR: This work highlights the advances in functionalization strategies that enable the broad utility of upconversion nanocrystals for multimodal imaging, cancer therapy, volumetric displays and photonics.
Abstract: Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanocrystals enable anti-Stokes emission with pump intensities several orders of magnitude lower than required by conventional nonlinear optical techniques. Their exceptional properties, namely large anti-Stokes shifts, sharp emission spectra and long excited-state lifetimes, have led to a diversity of applications. Here, we review upconversion nanocrystals from the perspective of fundamental concepts and examine the technical challenges in relation to emission colour tuning and luminescence enhancement. In particular, we highlight the advances in functionalization strategies that enable the broad utility of upconversion nanocrystals for multimodal imaging, cancer therapy, volumetric displays and photonics.
1,162 citations
National University of Singapore1, China University of Geosciences (Beijing)2, Fuzhou University3, Hong Kong Polytechnic University4, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology5, Nanjing Tech University6, Shenzhen University7, Johns Hopkins University8, University of New South Wales9, University of Verona10, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications11, Northwestern Polytechnical University12
TL;DR: All-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals containing caesium and lead provide low-cost, flexible and solution-processable scintillators that are highly sensitive to X-ray irradiation and emit radioluminescence that is colour-tunable across the visible spectrum.
Abstract: The rising demand for radiation detection materials in many applications has led to extensive research on scintillators1–3. The ability of a scintillator to absorb high-energy (kiloelectronvolt-scale) X-ray photons and convert the absorbed energy into low-energy visible photons is critical for applications in radiation exposure monitoring, security inspection, X-ray astronomy and medical radiography4,5. However, conventional scintillators are generally synthesized by crystallization at a high temperature and their radioluminescence is difficult to tune across the visible spectrum. Here we describe experimental investigations of a series of all-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals comprising caesium and lead atoms and their response to X-ray irradiation. These nanocrystal scintillators exhibit strong X-ray absorption and intense radioluminescence at visible wavelengths. Unlike bulk inorganic scintillators, these perovskite nanomaterials are solution-processable at a relatively low temperature and can generate X-ray-induced emissions that are easily tunable across the visible spectrum by tailoring the anionic component of colloidal precursors during their synthesis. These features allow the fabrication of flexible and highly sensitive X-ray detectors with a detection limit of 13 nanograys per second, which is about 400 times lower than typical medical imaging doses. We show that these colour-tunable perovskite nanocrystal scintillators can provide a convenient visualization tool for X-ray radiography, as the associated image can be directly recorded by standard digital cameras. We also demonstrate their direct integration with commercial flat-panel imagers and their utility in examining electronic circuit boards under low-dose X-ray illumination. All-inorganic perovskite nanocrystals containing caesium and lead provide low-cost, flexible and solution-processable scintillators that are highly sensitive to X-ray irradiation and emit radioluminescence that is colour-tunable across the visible spectrum.
1,064 citations
887 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a solution-processed double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 single crystals are used to make a sensitive X-ray detector with a minimum detectable dose rate as low as 59.7 nGyair's−1.
Abstract: Sensitive X-ray detection is crucial for medical diagnosis, industrial inspection and scientific research. The recently described hybrid lead halide perovskites have demonstrated low-cost fabrication and outstanding performance for direct X-ray detection, but they all contain toxic Pb in a soluble form. Here, we report sensitive X-ray detectors using solution-processed double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 single crystals. Through thermal annealing and surface treatment, we largely eliminate Ag+/Bi3+ disordering and improve the crystal resistivity, resulting in a detector with a minimum detectable dose rate as low as 59.7 nGyair s−1, comparable to the latest record of 0.036 μGyair s−1 using CH3NH3PbBr3 single crystals. Suppressed ion migration in Cs2AgBiBr6 permits relatively large external bias, guaranteeing efficient charge collection without a substantial increase in noise current and thus enabling the low detection limit. Double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 single crystals are used to make a sensitive X-ray detector. The device exhibits a high sensitivity of 105 µC Gyair
−1 cm−2 and a low detection limit of 59.7 nGyairs−1, and demonstrates long-term operational stability.
812 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that molecularly tailored UCNPs can serve as optogenetic actuators of transcranial NIR light to stimulate deep brain neurons and evoked dopamine release from genetically tagged neurons in the ventral tegmental area and triggered memory recall.
Abstract: Optogenetics has revolutionized the experimental interrogation of neural circuits and holds promise for the treatment of neurological disorders It is limited, however, because visible light cannot penetrate deep inside brain tissue Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) absorb tissue-penetrating near-infrared (NIR) light and emit wavelength-specific visible light Here, we demonstrate that molecularly tailored UCNPs can serve as optogenetic actuators of transcranial NIR light to stimulate deep brain neurons Transcranial NIR UCNP-mediated optogenetics evoked dopamine release from genetically tagged neurons in the ventral tegmental area, induced brain oscillations through activation of inhibitory neurons in the medial septum, silenced seizure by inhibition of hippocampal excitatory cells, and triggered memory recall UCNP technology will enable less-invasive optical neuronal activity manipulation with the potential for remote therapy
765 citations