Highly efficient photothermal nanoagent achieved by harvesting energy via excited-state intramolecular motion within nanoparticles

Zheng Zhao, Chao Chen, Wenting Wu, Fenfen Wang, Lili Du, Xiaoyan Zhang, Yu Xiong, Xuewen He, Yuanjing Cai, Ryan T. K. Kwok, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Xike Gao, Pingchuan Sun, David Lee Phillips, Dan Ding () and Ben Zhong Tang ()
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Zheng Zhao: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Chao Chen: Nankai University
Wenting Wu: Chinese Academy of Science
Fenfen Wang: Nankai University
Lili Du: The University of Hong Kong
Xiaoyan Zhang: Nankai University
Yu Xiong: Shenzhen Research Institute
Xuewen He: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Yuanjing Cai: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Ryan T. K. Kwok: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Jacky W. Y. Lam: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Xike Gao: Chinese Academy of Science
Pingchuan Sun: Nankai University
David Lee Phillips: The University of Hong Kong
Dan Ding: Nankai University
Ben Zhong Tang: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The exciting applications of molecular motion are still limited and are in urgent pursuit, although some fascinating concepts such as molecular motors and molecular machines have been proposed for years. Utilizing molecular motion in a nanoplatform for practical application has been scarcely explored due to some unconquered challenges such as how to achieve effective molecular motion in the aggregate state within nanoparticles. Here, we introduce a class of near infrared-absorbing organic molecules with intramolecular motion-induced photothermy inside nanoparticles, which enables most absorbed light energy to dissipate as heat. Such a property makes the nanoparticles a superior photoacoustic imaging agent compared to widely used methylene blue and semiconducting polymer nanoparticles and allow them for high-contrast photoacoustic imaging of tumours in live mice. This study not only provides a strategy for developing advanced photothermal/photoacoustic imaging nanoagents, but also enables molecular motion in a nanoplatform to find a way for practical application.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08722-z

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