A generic approach towards afterglow luminescent nanoparticles for ultrasensitive in vivo imaging

Yuyan Jiang, Jiaguo Huang, Xu Zhen, Ziling Zeng, Jingchao Li, Chen Xie, Qingqing Miao, Jie Chen, Peng Chen and Kanyi Pu ()
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Yuyan Jiang: Nanyang Technological University
Jiaguo Huang: Nanyang Technological University
Xu Zhen: Nanyang Technological University
Ziling Zeng: Nanyang Technological University
Jingchao Li: Nanyang Technological University
Chen Xie: Nanyang Technological University
Qingqing Miao: Nanyang Technological University
Jie Chen: Nanyang Technological University
Peng Chen: Nanyang Technological University
Kanyi Pu: Nanyang Technological University

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

Abstract: Abstract Afterglow imaging with long-lasting luminescence after cessation of light excitation provides opportunities for ultrasensitive molecular imaging; however, the lack of biologically compatible afterglow agents has impeded exploitation in clinical settings. This study presents a generic approach to transforming ordinary optical agents (including fluorescent polymers, dyes, and inorganic semiconductors) into afterglow luminescent nanoparticles (ALNPs). This approach integrates a cascade photoreaction into a single-particle entity, enabling ALNPs to chemically store photoenergy and spontaneously decay it in an energy-relay process. Not only can the afterglow profiles of ALNPs be finetuned to afford emission from visible to near-infrared (NIR) region, but also their intensities can be predicted by a mathematical model. The representative NIR ALNPs permit rapid detection of tumors in living mice with a signal-to-background ratio that is more than three orders of magnitude higher than that of NIR fluorescence. The biodegradability of the ALNPs further heightens their potential for ultrasensitive in vivo imaging.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10119-x

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