Hybrid NaYF4:Er,Yb@NaYF4@nano-MOF@AuNPs@LB composites for Yb3+-Er3+ physiological thermometry

UiO-66-NH2 is a well-known Zr-MOF with a high surface area and good chemical stability, which is often employed for catalysis. The biological applications of Zr-MOFs are less often explored, however it has already been shown that they can be used for drug loading and release. In this work we show that UiO-66-NH2 (referred to as nano-MOF throughout the work) can be a host for accommodating beta-NaYF4:Er,Yb@beta-NaYF4 nano thermometers as well as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) which can potentially take on the role of nanoheaters for plasmon-induced hyperthermia. Such a hybrid material can be made in an easy two step approach and yields nano-sized porous composites. At the same time, it could potentially still be used for drug delivery. A lipid bilayer is wrapped around the nano-MOF composites to further improve their biocompatibility with the human body. The hybrid composite shows good thermometry in the physiological range when dispersed in water.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates that UiO-66-NH2 can serve as a host for nano thermometers and gold nanoparticles, resulting in a hybrid material with good biocompatibility.