Perovskite quantum dots modulating upconversion nanomaterials for cancer early detections

The accurate diagnosis and treatment of cancer cell lesions need a high standard of detection technology. Fluorescent probes to perform cancer biomarker detection have become a popular research issue. However, fluorescent probes still face enormous challenges of complex design and difficult detection. In this work, we propose a novel composite material UCNP@SiO2 + QDs based on the combination of rare earth upconversion (UCNPs) and perovskite quantum dots (QDs) and design a new fluorescent probe MB-UCNP@SiO2 + QDs with molecular beacon (MB) as the carrier, that can be excited by near-infrared light, emitted in the visible wavelength, specifically identified and highly sensitive. Under the excitation of 980 nm near-infrared light, the UCNPs and QDs in the composite produced the maximum efficiency of energy transfer through fluorescence resonance, and the multi-emission light of UCNPs synergistically excited the re-emission of QDs, and the energy transfer efficiency is 70.6%. By changing the doping ratio of QDs halogen elements in UCNP@SiO2 + QDs, it is possible to modulate the precise luminescence of UCNP@SiO2 + QDs in the entire wavelength range of visible light at different positions. The novel fluorescent probe is obtained using UCNP@SiO2 + QDs and Black Hole Quencher-1 (BHQ1) quenching groups linked to the two respective sides of MB, selecting as the target of detection the myeloma cancer biomarker miRNA-155, a difficult diagnostic and complex developmental type, and have achieved specific recognition and low concentration of miRNA-155 and a detection limit of 73.5 pM. This fluorescent probe design can provide new ideas for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, tumors, and cardiovascular diseases. Graphical Abstract