This series of products contains dense silica coated NaYREF4 (RE:Yb, Er, Tm, Gd, Mn, Lu) UCNs with optimal excitation wavelength at 975 nm. The sensitizer is Yb3+, and the activator is Er3+ or Tm3+. The doping concentrations are optimized, leading to strong upconverted emissions at specific wavelengths. The nanoparticles are highly hydrophilic due to the silica coating.The UCNs are of high quantum efficiency and very photostable After proper surface modification and functionalization, the products can be used for fluorescence imaging, biodetection, photodynamic therapy and photoactivation of anti-cancer drugs and biomolecules