Upconversion nanoparticles (ucnps), are the result of a unique optical process in which near-infrared (NIR) light excitation is converted into visable and/or UV emission. Upconversion (UC) utilizes sequential absorption of multiple photons utilizing both lifetime and real ladder-like energy levels of ions in a host lattice to produce a higher energy anti-Stokes luminescence.

This optical features of UCNPs, results in deep tissue penetration and minimal autofluorescence background, for a broad range of applications of UCNP in diagnostics and biomedical imaging systems.

Applications include:

Fluorescent microscopy
Deep-tissue bioimaging
Nanomedicine
Optogenetics
Security labelling
Volumetric display