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Non-Invasive Deep-Tissue Temperature Monitoring via High-Performance Optical Nanothermometer
1  Laboratoire de Chimie Minérale Appliquée (LCMA) LR19ES02, Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis EL Manar, Campus Universitaire Farhat Hachad, El Manar 1, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia.
2  Universidad de La Laguna, Departamento de Física, IMN.Apdo. Correos 456, E-38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
Academic Editor: Weili Zhang

Abstract:

Accurate, non-invasive temperature monitoring is vital for biomedical diagnostics and therapies, yet conventional thermometry often suffers from its invasiveness and limited tissue penetration. In this work, we present Er³⁺ and Tm³⁺ co-doped TiO2 nanofibers as high-performance optical nanothermometers operating within near-infrared (NIR) biological windows. The materials are synthesized via a hydrothermal route and structurally confirmed by XRD, SEM coupled with EDS, and TEM analyses, showing successful incorporation of lanthanide ions without compromising TiO2 morphology. Under 532 nm excitation, the probes exhibit dual emission bands at approximately 797 nm (Tm3+: 3H4 3H6) and around 1000 nm (Er3+: 4I11/2 4I15/2), enabling fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR)-based thermometry. Remarkably, the system demonstrates anti-thermal-quenching behavior, with emission intensity increasing with temperature due to the synergistic effects of TiO2 host structure and energy transfer between dopants. The optimized sensor achieves an exceptional relative sensitivity of 3.59 % K-1 at room temperature and a temperature resolution less than 1 K over the 298-398 K temperature range. Validation in intralipid tissue phantoms confirms reliable signal detection up to 17.35 mm depth, highlighting suitability for deep-tissue applications. These findings establish TiO2 nanofibers co-doped with Er3+ and Tm3+ ions as ultrasensitive and stable optical probes, with strong potential for real-time, non-invasive thermal monitoring in biological and medical environments.

Keywords: Lanthanides; Optical Sensing; FIR; biological windows; Negative thermal expansion;Relative Sensitivity;Temperature Error; Intralipid,;issue Phantom.

 
 
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