Source 1review2019ACS Chemical Neuroscience
Toolkit/upconversion nanoparticles
upconversion nanoparticles
Also known as: lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles, UCNPs
Taxonomy: Mechanism Branch / Architecture. Workflows sit above the mechanism and technique branches rather than replacing them.
Summary
Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are a light-conversion delivery harness that couples near-infrared (NIR) illumination to modules that normally require shorter-wavelength activation. In the cited studies, UCNPs were paired with a UV-responsive triangular DNA nano sucker and with Opto-CRAC to enable NIR-triggered nucleic acid amplification and NIR control of Ca2+-dependent signaling.
Usefulness & Problems
Why this is useful
UCNPs are useful because they shift the operational input of light-responsive systems from visible or UV wavelengths to NIR wavelengths through wavelength conversion. This enables NIR-activatable control in both a nucleic acid imaging/amplification context and an optogenetic Ca2+ signaling context.
Problem solved
These studies use UCNPs to solve the mismatch between NIR illumination and biological tools that are intrinsically activated by shorter wavelengths. Specifically, UCNP coupling enabled a UV-responsive nucleic acid nanodevice and the visible-light-responsive Opto-CRAC system to be actuated under NIR illumination.
Published Workflows
Objective: Engineer a remotely activatable DNA nanodevice that couples NIR light control to amplified survivin mRNA imaging and gene-silencing therapy.
Why it works: The reported design couples an external NIR trigger to UCNP-mediated UV generation, which then activates a DNA walking amplification mechanism linked to survivin mRNA recognition and therapeutic ASO release.
NIR-to-UV optical transductionintramolecular toehold-mediated entropy-driven DNA walkingsurvivin mRNA recognitionBcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide releaseDNA nanodevice designupconversion nanoparticle coupling
Objective: Achieve 3D sub-diffraction imaging in a conventional confocal configuration by exploiting super-linear emitters.
Why it works: The method is reported to exploit super-linear emitters so that a conventional confocal configuration can produce sub-diffraction imaging.
super-linear excitation-emission behaviorupconversion emissionconfocal imaginguse of super-linear emitters
Objective: Engineer and apply NIR upconversion optogenetic systems for more precise and efficient control of membrane ion channels, especially in deep tissues.
Why it works: The review frames the approach as using emissive UCNPs to convert NIR excitation into light that can actuate conventional light-gated channels or ligands, thereby retaining optical control while improving tissue penetration and reducing photodamage concerns associated with shorter wavelengths.
NIR-to-visible upconversionlight-gated ion channel activationlight-gated ligand-mediated channel regulationnanoparticle engineeringactuator-material couplingoptogenetic control
Stages
- 1.Engineering and incorporation of emissive UCNPs into light-gated channel or ligand systems(library_design)
This stage establishes the core UCNP-actuator system needed for NIR control of membrane ion channels.
Selection: Constructing upconversion optogenetic systems by incorporating multiple emissive UCNPs into various light-gated ChRs/ligands.
- 2.Technical improvement for precise and efficient membrane-channel control(functional_characterization)
After building UCNP-coupled optogenetic systems, the review emphasizes technical improvements to make control more precise and efficient.
Selection: Improving precision and efficiency of membrane channel control in the engineered upconversion optogenetic systems.
- 3.Refinement and advancement toward in vivo and clinical applications(in_vivo_validation)
The review presents in vivo and clinical advancement as a later-stage goal after system engineering and performance improvement.
Selection: Advancing NIR-mediated upconversion optogenetics into in vivo and potentially clinical applications.
Multifunctional Upconversion-Magnetic Hybrid Nanostructured Materials: Synthesis and Bioapplications
2013Objective: Design and fabricate multifunctional upconversion-magnetic hybrid nanostructured materials for multimodal biomedical applications.
Why it works: The review abstract argues that combining UCNP optical properties with MNP magnetic properties yields integrated multifunctionality not available from either component alone.
combining optical upconversion with magnetic functionality in one nanostructurenanoparticle designnanoparticle fabrication
Taxonomy & Function
Primary hierarchy
Mechanism Branch
Architecture: A delivery strategy grouped with the mechanism branch because it determines how a system is instantiated and deployed in context.
Mechanisms
exonuclease iii-assisted nucleic acid cascade recycling amplificationmultiphoton upconversionphotocontrolled nucleic acid displacement reactionwavelength conversion from nir input to activation of shorter-wavelength-responsive moduleswavelength conversion from nir input to shorter-wavelength activationwavelength conversion from nir input to uv/visible/shorter-nir emissionTechniques
No technique tags yet.
Target processes
signalingInput: Light
Implementation Constraints
In the nucleic acid application, UCNPs were combined with a rationally designed UV light-responsive triangular DNA nano sucker and with a photocontrollable nucleic acid displacement reaction plus exonuclease III-assisted cascade recycling amplification. In the optogenetic application, UCNPs were coupled to Opto-CRAC to shift activation from visible light to NIR; the provided evidence does not specify nanoparticle composition, excitation wavelength, or delivery format.
The supplied evidence does not report quantitative performance metrics such as conversion efficiency, activation depth, temporal resolution, or comparative sensitivity. Evidence is limited to two coupled-use cases, so generalizability across other light-responsive systems is not established here.
Validation
Cell-freeBacteriaMammalianMouseHumanTherapeuticIndep. Replication
Supporting Sources
Source 2review2015Nanomaterials
Source 3primary paper2020Analytical Chemistry
Source 4primary paper2015eLife
Ranked Claims
The NIR-activatable amplification strategy is achieved by integrating a photocontrollable nucleic acid displacement reaction, exonuclease III assisted nucleic acid cascade recycling amplification, and upconversion nanoparticles.
This strategy is achieved by integrating photocontrollable nucleic acid displacement reaction with exonuclease III (EXO III) assisted nucleic acid cascade recycling amplification and combination with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), thus resulting in a NIR light activatable signal amplification.
The review states that nanomaterials such as AuNPs, UCNPs, and CdSe quantum dots can help overcome poor light penetration and invasiveness limitations of earlier optogenetic methods.
their potential to emit a specific light on excitation to overcome the limitations associated with earlier methods has been elucidated
The review describes UCNPs as enabling NIR-driven imaging, drug delivery, and therapeutic applications, especially in deep tissue environments.
Coupling Opto-CRAC to upconversion nanoparticles shifts the optogenetic operation window from visible wavelengths to NIR wavelengths, enabling wireless photoactivation of Ca2+-dependent signaling and optogenetic modulation of immunoinflammatory responses.
When coupled to upconversion nanoparticles, the optogenetic operation window is shifted from the visible range to NIR wavelengths to enable wireless photoactivation of Ca(2+)-dependent signaling and optogenetic modulation of immunoinflammatory responses.
UCNPs can be fabricated with narrow distribution and tunable multicolor optical properties due to advances in synthesis chemistry.
Lanthanide-doped UCNPs convert low-energy NIR photons into higher-energy UV, visible, or shorter-NIR emission via multiphoton upconversion.
Approval Evidence
9 sources15 linked approval claimsfirst-pass slugs upconversion-nanocrystals, upconversion-nanoparticles, upconverting-nanoparticles
We highlight the following technologies: ... upconversion nanoparticles...
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built with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) to convert NIR to UV
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The proposed intelligent nanoprobe is composed of a rationally designed UV light-responsive triangular DNA nano sucker (TDS) and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)
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This strategy is achieved by integrating photocontrollable nucleic acid displacement reaction with exonuclease III (EXO III) assisted nucleic acid cascade recycling amplification and combination with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)
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the application of nanotechnology is being elaborated by the use of ... upconversion nanocrystals (UCNPs)
Source:
The engineering and applications of upconversion optogenetic systems by the incorporation multiple emissive UCNPs into various light-gated ChRs/ligands are first elaborated.
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When coupled to upconversion nanoparticles, the optogenetic operation window is shifted from the visible range to NIR wavelengths
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Lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) possess unique anti-Stokes optical properties, in which low energy near-infrared (NIR) photons can be converted into high energy UV, visible, shorter NIR emission via multiphoton upconversion processes.
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Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have attracted a great deal of attention in bioapplications due to their high chemical stability, low toxicity, and high signal-to-noise ratio.
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promise assessmentsupports
The reviewed studies establish the basis for novel and promising neuromodulatory treatments for Parkinson disease motor symptoms.
These studies establish the basis for novel and promising neuromodulatory treatments for PD motor symptoms.
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review scope summarysupports
The review summarizes preclinical and clinical trials investigating innovative neuromodulatory approaches for Parkinson disease motor symptom management.
In this review, we summarize preclinical and clinical trials investigating innovative neuromodulatory approaches for Parkinson disease (PD) motor symptom management.
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technology scopesupports
The review highlights temporal interference, nanoparticles for drug delivery, blood-brain barrier opening, gene therapy, optogenetics, upconversion nanoparticles, magnetothermal nanoparticles, magnetoelectric nanoparticles, ultrasound-responsive nanoparticles, and DREADDs as relevant technologies for Parkinson disease.
We highlight the following technologies: temporal interference, nanoparticles for drug delivery, blood-brain barrier opening, gene therapy, optogenetics, upconversion nanoparticles, magnetothermal nanoparticles, magnetoelectric nanoparticles, ultrasound-responsive nanoparticles, and designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs.
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mechanismsupports
The nanodevice uses upconversion nanoparticles to convert NIR light to UV for activation.
built with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) to convert NIR to UV
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compositionsupports
UCNPs@TDS is composed of a UV light-responsive triangular DNA nano sucker and upconversion nanoparticles.
The proposed intelligent nanoprobe is composed of a rationally designed UV light-responsive triangular DNA nano sucker (TDS) and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), named UCNPs@TDS (UTDS)
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method compositionsupports
The NIR-activatable amplification strategy is achieved by integrating a photocontrollable nucleic acid displacement reaction, exonuclease III assisted nucleic acid cascade recycling amplification, and upconversion nanoparticles.
This strategy is achieved by integrating photocontrollable nucleic acid displacement reaction with exonuclease III (EXO III) assisted nucleic acid cascade recycling amplification and combination with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), thus resulting in a NIR light activatable signal amplification.
Source:
review summarysupports
The review states that nanomaterials such as AuNPs, UCNPs, and CdSe quantum dots can help overcome poor light penetration and invasiveness limitations of earlier optogenetic methods.
their potential to emit a specific light on excitation to overcome the limitations associated with earlier methods has been elucidated
Source:
review scope statementsupports
The review covers engineering and applications of upconversion optogenetic systems that incorporate multiple emissive UCNPs into various light-gated channelrhodopsin or ligand systems, and discusses technical improvements for more precise and efficient membrane-channel control.
Source:
review summarysupports
NIR upconversion nanoparticle-mediated optogenetic systems are presented as a way to overcome problems encountered in manipulating ion channels in deep tissues.
Source:
application scope summarysupports
The review describes UCNPs as enabling NIR-driven imaging, drug delivery, and therapeutic applications, especially in deep tissue environments.
Source:
coupled capabilitysupports
Coupling Opto-CRAC to upconversion nanoparticles shifts the optogenetic operation window from visible wavelengths to NIR wavelengths, enabling wireless photoactivation of Ca2+-dependent signaling and optogenetic modulation of immunoinflammatory responses.
When coupled to upconversion nanoparticles, the optogenetic operation window is shifted from the visible range to NIR wavelengths to enable wireless photoactivation of Ca(2+)-dependent signaling and optogenetic modulation of immunoinflammatory responses.
Source:
material property summarysupports
UCNPs can be fabricated with narrow distribution and tunable multicolor optical properties due to advances in synthesis chemistry.
Source:
review scope summarysupports
Lanthanide-doped UCNPs convert low-energy NIR photons into higher-energy UV, visible, or shorter-NIR emission via multiphoton upconversion.
Source:
application summarysupports
UCNPs and MNPs are described as having applications including protein purification, drug delivery, and medical imaging.
As a result, these nanoparticles could have many applications in biology and medicine, including protein purification, drug delivery, and medical imaging.
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property summarysupports
Upconversion nanoparticles are described as having high chemical stability, low toxicity, and high signal-to-noise ratio in bioapplications.
Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have attracted a great deal of attention in bioapplications due to their high chemical stability, low toxicity, and high signal-to-noise ratio.
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Comparisons
Source-backed strengths
The cited work shows that UCNPs can be integrated with distinct downstream systems, including a photocontrollable nucleic acid displacement and exonuclease III-assisted cascade amplification scheme, and an optogenetic Ca2+ signaling module. A demonstrated strength is the ability to shift the optogenetic operation window from the visible range to NIR wavelengths, with reported wireless photoactivation of Ca2+-dependent signaling and modulation of immunoinflammatory responses.
Ranked Citations
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