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This research was funded by the SPANISH GOVERNMENT, grant number MAT2016-75716-C2-1-R (AEI/FEDER, UE), and RTI2018-094859-B-I00, and by AGAUR, grant number 2017SGR755.

Analysis of institutional authors

Haro-Gonzalez, PatriciaAuthorSanz-Rodriguez, FranciscoAuthor
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Bifunctional Tm3+,Yb3+:GdVO4@SiO2 Core-Shell Nanoparticles in HeLa Cells: Upconversion Luminescence Nanothermometry in the First Biological Window and Biolabelling in the Visible

Publicated to:Nanomaterials. 10 (5): 993- - 2020-05-01 10(5), DOI: 10.3390/nano10050993

Authors: Savchuk, Oleksandr; Carvajal Marti, Joan Josep; Cascales, Concepcion; Haro-Gonzalez, Patricia; Sanz-Rodriguez, Francisco; Aguilo, Magdalena; Diaz, Francesc

Affiliations

Inst Ciencia Mat Madrid, Calle Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Fac Ciencias, Dept Biol, Campus Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Fac Ciencias, Dept Fis Mat, Fluorescence Imaging Grp, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
Univ Rovira & Virgili URV, Fis & Cristalog Mat & Nanomat FiCMA FiCNA EMaS, Campus Sescelades,Marcelli Domingo 1, E-43007 Tarragona, Spain - Author

Abstract

The bifunctional possibilities of Tm,Yb:GdVO4@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles for temperature sensing by using the near-infrared (NIR)-excited upconversion emissions in the first biological window, and biolabeling through the visible emissions they generate, were investigated. The two emission lines located at 700 and 800 nm, that arise from the thermally coupled F-3(2,3) and H-3(4) energy levels of Tm3+, were used to develop a luminescent thermometer, operating through the Fluorescence Intensity Ratio (FIR) technique, with a very high thermal relative sensitivity. Moreover, since the inert shell surrounding the luminescent active core allows for dispersal of the nanoparticles in water and biological compatible fluids, we investigated the penetration depth that can be realized in biological tissues with their emissions in the NIR range, achieving a value of 0.8 mm when excited at powers of 50 mW. After their internalization in HeLa cells, a low toxicity was observed and the potentiality for biolabelling in the visible range was demonstrated, which facilitated the identification of the location of the nanoparticles inside the cells, and the temperature determination.

Keywords
biolabelingbiological windowscore-shell nanoparticleshela cellsBiolabelingBiological windowsCore-shell nanoparticlesHela cellHela cellsLuminescence thermometryPlatformSensitivityThermometryTm3Upconverting nanoparticlesWorking

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Nanomaterials due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2020, it was in position 35/160, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Physics, Applied.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.35. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.98 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 3.67 (source consulted: Dimensions May 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-05-17, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 29
  • Scopus: 33
  • Europe PMC: 3
  • Google Scholar: 34
  • OpenCitations: 33
Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-05-17:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 33.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 33 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 9.5.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.