Design of AIEgens for near-infrared IIb imaging through structural modulation at molecular and morphological levels.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 32152288.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-020-15095-1 and PMC identifier 7062876.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Fluorescence imaging in near-infrared IIb (NIR-IIb, 1500-1700 nm) spectrum holds a great promise for tissue imaging. While few inorganic NIR-IIb fluorescent probes have been reported, their organic counterparts are still rarely developed, possibly due to the shortage of efficient materials with long emission wavelength. Herein, we propose a molecular design philosophy to explore pure organic NIR-IIb fluorophores by manipulation of the effects of twisted intramolecular charge transfer and aggregation-induced emission at the molecular and morphological levels. An organic fluorescent dye emitting up to 1600 nm with a quantum yield of 11.5% in the NIR-II region is developed. NIR-IIb fluorescence imaging of blood vessels and deeply-located intestinal tract of live mice based on organic dyes is achieved with high clarity and enhanced signal-to-background ratio. We hope this study will inspire further development on the evolution of pure organic NIR-IIb dyes for bio-imaging.
Medical subject headings
- Fluorescent Dyes
- Infrared Rays
- Optical Imaging