Department of Nanocrystal Materials
Institute for Scintillation Materials National Academy of
Sciences of Ukraine
Research activities : The main activity of the Department of
Nanoscale materials is focused on development and integrated
study of fluorescent nanomaterials, which properties are either environmentallyindependent (inorganic nanocrystals of various structure and chemical composition) or
strongly environmentally-dependent (luminescent clusters of organic dye molecules – Jaggregates, surfactant micelles and liposomes loaded with fluorescent molecules).
The main classes of developed materials are:
- rare-earth doped inorganic nanocrystals of various types;
- fluorescent organic clusters (J-aggregates, liposomes and micelles containing
fluorescent molecules);
- hybrid nanomaterials “inorganic nanoparticle – organic molecule”;
- nanocomposite materials (sol-gel film and matrices);
- nanoporous materials (high-ordered Al2O3 films with controlled pore diameter).
- a number of fluorescent dyes for specific labeling of biological objects and monitoring
cell functional state during long-term experiments, including stem cell labeling and IRfluorescent dyes for non-invasive cell tracing.
The main achievements:
 We developed effective energy- and material-saving methods for synthesis of
activated wide-band dielectric nanocrystals of various chemical compositions, size and
shape as a universal platform for creation of multifunctional materials for various
applications including biomedical applications;
 the effect of a selective interaction of nanocrystals with biological objects
(accumulation in specific cells and cell organelles, including cancer stem cells) has
been observed (in collaboration with Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and
Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine);
 Our nanocrystals possess both anti- and pro-oxidant properties which could be
controlled;
 Pro-oxidant properties could be activated under UV, Vis and X-ray excitation that is
very prospective for photodynamic therapy of cancer;
 We found the 80% suppression of tumor cell growth (Ehrlich's carcinoma model) and
selective inhibition of a cancer stem cells proliferation (in collaboration with Institute for
Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine);
 Our nanocrystals suppress clinical behavior of hyperglycemia and exhibit a positive
effect on both reproductive function and emotional state (in collaboration with Institute
for Problems of Endocrine Pathology, National Academy of Medical Sciences of
Ukraine);
 We found strong radioprotector properties of synthesized nanocrystals (in
collaboration with Kharkiv Research Institute of Medical Radiology, National Academy
of Medical Sciences of Ukraine);
 the method of liposomal vesicle fluorescent labeling for studying their interaction with
cells of different types in dynamics has been developed and tested in experiments with
sensitive and resistant human breast cancer cells (in collaboration with R. E. Kavetsky
Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology, National Academy of
Sciences of Ukraine);
Expertise offered:
 We offer a number of nano-sized fluorescent materials for various application areas
including biomedical applications:
- nanoparticles of orthophosphates and vanadates of rare-earth elements doped with
various ions (CePO4:Tb3+, LaPO4:Eu3+, LaPO4:Ce3+, GdVO4:Eu3+ and
LaVO4:(Eu, Dy, Sm), etc. The nanocrystals are synthesized by colloid-chemical
methods and characterized by different sizes (2 – 50 nm) and shapes (spherical,
rod-like, spindle-like). The nanoparticles can be in the form of transparent colloidal
solutions, which are luminescent under UV irradiation and powders, which can be redispersed in water. The solutions are highly stable. Fluorescent nanoparticles
possess a number of advantages: unlimited photostability, large Stokes shift ( 200
nm that allows separation of nanoparticle fluorescence signals from cell
autofluorescence), narrow spectral lines (governed by Re ion type in a certain
matrix), absence of blinking effect that allows reliable nanoparticles identification in
biological objects and low cytotoxicity.
- specific hybrid materials "inorganic nanoparticle - organic molecule" for biomedical
applications;
-fluorescent polymeric and SiO2 luminescence nanosphers as a labels for
biomedical applications;
 nanomaterials with pro/anti-oxidant properties;
 nanomaterials with anticancer activity;
 nanomaterials with radioprotector properties;
 nanomaterials with anti-hyperglycemia effect;
 nanocomposite materials (transparent sol-gel matrices and film) and highly-ordered
nanoporous materials (aluminum oxide matrices and polymeric templates) which can
be loaded with different compounds (dye molecules, nanoparticles, etc.) for various
applications;
 magnet nanoparticles and coated fluorescent magnet nanoparticles for biomedical
applications;
 method for organic nanocarriers (liposomes and micelles) fluorescent labeling and
long-term monitoring of their interaction with biological objects in dynamics,
controlling various intracellular processes in living cells;
 method for estimation of fluorescent dye accumulation in living cells;
 facility and existent wide experience in synthesis of fluorescent probes for selective
labeling and monitoring of various cells and cell organelles including and IRfluorescent dyes for non-invasive cell tracing.
 effective fluorescent method for controlling cell functional state during long-term
experiments including cell cultivation and cryopreservation;
Equipment offered:
- ZetaPALS/BI-MAS analyzer (Brookhaven Instruments Corp., USA) operated in phase
analysis light scattering mode
- Picosecond Fluorescence lifetime spectrometer FluoTime200;
- Fluorescence spectrometer Lumina ThermoScientific;
- Spectrophotometer SPECORD200;
- Fluorescence microscope Olympus IX71 supplied with CCD camera SENSICAM QE
670KS;
- Facility for cell cultivation (laminar-room);
Contact person: Professor Yuri Malyukin
e-mail: malyukin@isma.kharkov.ua
Institute for Scintillation Materials NAS of Ukraine
60 Lenin ave., 61001 Kharkov , Ukraine
Tel. +38 050 4025111(mob.) +380 57 341-01-49 (office);
Fax: +380 57 340-44-74;