Selected-Control Fabrication of Multifunctional Fluorescent-Magnetic Core-Shell and Yolk-Shell Hybrid Nanostructures

The selected-control preparation of uniform coreshell and yolkshell architectures, which combine the multiple functions of a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) core and europium-doped yttrium oxide (Y2O3:Eu) shell in a single material with tunable fluorescence and magnetic properties, has been successfully achieved by controlling the heat-treatment conditions. Furthermore, the shell thickness and interior cavity of SPIO@Y2O3:Eu coreshell and yolkshell nanostructures can be precisely tuned. Importantly, as-prepared SPIO@Y2O3:Eu yolkshell nanocapsules (NCs) modified with amino groups as cancer-cell fluorescence imaging agents are also demonstrated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the selected-control fabrication of uniform SPIO@Y2O3:Eu coreshell nanoparticles and yolkshell NCs. The combined magnetic manipulation and optical monitoring of magneticfluorescent SPIO@Y2O3:Eu yolkshell NCs will open up many exciting opportunities in dual imaging for targeted delivery and thermal therapy.