Nanopowders of LaPO₄ have been grown by sedimentation-micellar method. As-prepared LaPO₄ nanoparticles with the average grain size of about 8 nm have a single-phase hydrated hexagonal structure. After thermal annealing at 600 and 800 °C, the average size of nanoparticles increases up to ∼35 and ∼50 nm, respectively, and the structure transforms into single-phase monoclinic. IR spectra of LaPO₄ nanoparticles of different size were investigated in the wide range of wavenumbers from 130 to 5000 cm⁻¹ in the 20–300 K temperature region. Differences between IR spectra of the bulk material and nanoparticles as well as the temperature behavior of the vibrational properties are discussed.

The study of the spectral-luminescence parameters of LaPO₄-Eu and LaPO₄-Pr nanoparticles upon excitation by the synchrotron radiation with photon energies 4–40 eV was performed. The differences of the luminescence intensity dependence on the size for LaPO₄-Eu and LaPO₄-Pr nanoparticles excited at the range of matrix transparency, the range of band-to-band transitions, and the range of electronic excitation multiplication were revealed. The observed regularities are explained in terms of the electron-phonon and electron-electron scattering, surface losses, and exciton diffusion. The ratio between the length of thermalization and electron mean free path and the size of nanoparticle is determinative for the luminescence intensity upon excitation in the range of fundamental absorption of matrix and X-ray excitation.

The luminescence properties of CaF₂ nanoparticles with various sizes (20–140 nm) are studied upon the excitation by VUV and x-ray quanta in order to reveal the influence of ratio of mean free path and thermalization length of charge carriers and nanoparticle size on the self-trapped exciton luminescence. The luminescence intensity for exciting quantum energies corresponding to optical creation of exciton and to the range of electronic excitation multiplication is not so sensitive to nanoparticle size as for quanta with energy of E_g < hν < 2E_g. The dependences of luminescence intensity on nanoparticle size at the excitation by quanta of various energies are discussed in terms of electron-phonon and electron-electron scattering lengths and energy losses on surface defects.

The dependence of X-ray excited luminescence intensity on BaF₂ nanoparticle size was studied. A sharp decrease of self-trapped exciton luminescence intensity was observed when the nanoparticle size is less than 80 nm. The main mechanism of the luminescence quenching is caused by the escape of electrons from the nanoparticles. Escape of electrons from nanoparticles is confirmed by the considerable increase of luminescence intensity of the polystyrene scintillator with embedded BaF₂ nanoparticles comparing with pure polystyrene scintillator.

Development of biocompatible multifunctional polymeric drug carriers is crucial in modern pharmaceutics aimed to create “smart” drugs. The high potential of the PEGylated comb-like polymeric nanocarrier (PNC) in delivering both traditional and experimental drugs to tumor cells in vitro and in vivo has been demonstrated previously. In the present study, we investigated the general toxicity of polyethylene glycol (PEG) processed with both covalent and non-covalent attachments of PEG to compose a comb-like polymer that behaves like a simple chain of n monomers decorated with swollen side chains. The PNC possesses properties of a water-soluble surfactant containing methyl-terminated PEG side branches in some monomer units attached covalently to the carbon chain backbone. We have demonstrated that the synthesized PNC possesses weak toxic effects toward human leukemia cells (HL-60 and Jurkat lines), as well as toward hepatocellular (HepG2), colon (HCT116) and breast (MCF-7) tumor cell lines. Additionally, after a long period (20 days) of intraperitoneal administration, the PNC had no significant toxic effects in laboratory white mice (470 mg/kg body mass in 1 ml) and Wistar rats (440 mg/kg body mass in 10 ml). The developed PNC we studied can be qualified as a compound of grade 4 toxicity (low toxicity substance). The reduced toxicity of this PNC in combination with its improved bioavailability and previously detected capability to enhance cytotoxicity toward tumor cells in vitro and potential tumor treatment effects in vivo suggests its potential as a safe drug delivery platform for treating various diseases, especially cancer.