Designing up-converting nanomaterials for intracellular cargo dynamics

Tang, Wilson Z.

Designing up-converting nanomaterials for intracellular cargo dynamics

Tang, Wilson Z.

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2025

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Tang, Wilson Z.
dc.date.accessioned	2026-05-27T03:15:03Z
dc.date.available	2026-05-27T03:15:03Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195165
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Science.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	The advancement of nanotechnology has enabled the development of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), a class of luminescent materials capable of converting low-energy near-infrared light into higher-energy visible or ultraviolet emissions. This unique optical property makes UCNPs highly promising for applications in biomedical imaging, diagnostics, and sensing. However, a deeper understanding of their optical behavior at the single-particle level and their interactions within biological environments remains limited. This thesis investigates both the fundamental and applied aspects of UCNPs through a combination of synthesis, optical characterization, and computational modeling. It begins by exploring the synthesis of UCNPs with varied dopants, crystal structures, and surface modifications to tune their luminescent and chemical properties. A key part of the project involved building a custom, multi-purpose optical system for high-resolution imaging and single-particle characterization, allowing for precise measurements of luminescence, lifetime, and energy transfer efficiency. The optical properties of UCNPs were evaluated using techniques such as scanning confocal microscopy, widefield imaging, and photon-counting spectroscopy. These results attempt to predict emission behavior based on dopant combinations and particle environments. In biological contexts, the uptake and movement of UCNPs within living cells were tracked over time. Using statistical tools such as mean square displacement and Hidden Markov Models, the study classified intracellular transport behaviors and explored the mechanisms of vesicle trafficking. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how UCNPs behave optically and biologically, enabling their optimized use in single-particle imaging, photodynamic therapy, and diagnostic assays. This research lays a strong foundation for the future design of intelligent, responsive nanomaterials for biomedical applications, combining theoretical insight with practical instrumentation and cellular investigation.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (MSc)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	© 2025 Wilson Z. Tang
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/nph
dc.title	Designing up-converting nanomaterials for intracellular cargo dynamics	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

The advancement of nanotechnology has enabled the development of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), a class of luminescent materials capable of converting low-energy near-infrared light into higher-energy visible or ultraviolet emissions. This unique optical property makes UCNPs highly promising for applications in biomedical imaging, diagnostics, and sensing. However, a deeper understanding of their optical behavior at the single-particle level and their interactions within biological environments remains limited. This thesis investigates both the fundamental and applied aspects of UCNPs through a combination of synthesis, optical characterization, and computational modeling. It begins by exploring the synthesis of UCNPs with varied dopants, crystal structures, and surface modifications to tune their luminescent and chemical properties. A key part of the project involved building a custom, multi-purpose optical system for high-resolution imaging and single-particle characterization, allowing for precise measurements of luminescence, lifetime, and energy transfer efficiency. The optical properties of UCNPs were evaluated using techniques such as scanning confocal microscopy, widefield imaging, and photon-counting spectroscopy. These results attempt to predict emission behavior based on dopant combinations and particle environments. In biological contexts, the uptake and movement of UCNPs within living cells were tracked over time. Using statistical tools such as mean square displacement and Hidden Markov Models, the study classified intracellular transport behaviors and explored the mechanisms of vesicle trafficking. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how UCNPs behave optically and biologically, enabling their optimized use in single-particle imaging, photodynamic therapy, and diagnostic assays. This research lays a strong foundation for the future design of intelligent, responsive nanomaterials for biomedical applications, combining theoretical insight with practical instrumentation and cellular investigation.

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