TPAOH assisted size-tunable Gd2O3@mSi core–shell nanostructures for multifunctional biomedical applications

Abstract

We report a facile and large-scale synthesis of size-tunable and nontoxic mesoporous silica-coated Gd₂O₃:Eu³⁺ (Gd@mSi) core–shell nanostructures using a TPAOH assisted modified UHP technique. The role of TPAOH in controlling the particle size was evaluated. The potentiality of these Gd@mSi core–shell nanoparticles before and after folic acid conjugation was established by in vitro fluorescence microscopy of the U2OS cell lines for cancer imaging and therapy.