Gel-like aggregation of photoluminescent calcium phosphate nanoparticles via citric acid surface-engineering

Key Points

• This research aims to explore the transformation of calcium phosphate nanoparticle dispersion into a gel-like state using citric acid.
• Calcium phosphate nanoparticles were doped with Eu 3+ and coordinated with citric acid.
• The dispersion was heated to near physiological temperature to induce gel-like aggregation.
• The citric acid-coordinated nanoparticles successfully transformed into a gel-like state upon heating.