Highly controllable synthesis of near-infrared persistent luminescence SiO2/CaMgSi2O6 composite nanospheres for imaging in vivo.

High quality near-infrared (NIR) persistent luminescence nanospheres (PLNPs) were synthesized using a simple mesoporous template method. The as-synthesized NIR persistent luminescence nanoparticles have uniform spherical morphology, tunable sizes, and a nominal composition of SiO(2)/CaMgSi(2)O(6):Eu(2+), Pr(3+), Mn(2+) (denoted as SEPM). Their NIR persistent luminescence at 660 nm can be detected during more than 1 hour. The in vivo distribution of the nanoparticles in the abdomen can be detected in real time after injection into the abdomen of a mouse. The nanoparticles can be metabolized from the lymph circulation and transferred from the abdomen to the bladder. The results indicate an effective method to offer high quality NIR persistent luminescence nanoprobes for imaging.