Controlled Synthesis of Ultrathin Lanthanide Oxide Nanosheets and Their Promising pH-Controlled Anticancer Drug Delivery

Various lanthanide oxides (Sm₂O₃ and Gd₂O₃) nanostructures were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. The loss of surfactants on the nanocrystals surface, followed by the resultant assembly is responsible for the formation of ultrathin nanosheets. Owing to strong surface effects, the different morphologies of the Sm₂O₃:5%Eu and Gd₂O₃:5%Eu nanocrystals present unique photoluminescence properties. As a proof-of-concept application, the as-obtained Sm₂O₃ and Gd₂O₃ ultrathin nanosheets exhibit promising pH-controlled anticancer drug-delivery behavior. Lanthanide oxide nanostructures (Sm₂O₃ and Gd₂O₃) with various morphologies (nanoflakes, nanowires, ultrathin nanosheets) were synthesized by a facile wet chemistry method. As a proof-of-concept, the Sm₂O₃ and Gd₂O₃ ultrathin nanosheets demonstrate promising pH-controlled anticancer drug-delivery behavior.