Storable, thermally activated, near-infrared chemiluminescent dyes and dye-stained microparticles for optical imaging.
Imaging techniques are a vital part of clinical diagnostics, biomedical research and nanotechnology. Optical molecular imaging makes use of relatively harmless, low-energy light and technically straightforward instrumentation. Self-illuminating, chemiluminescent systems are particularly attractive because they have inherently high signal contrast due to the lack of background emission. Currently, chemiluminescence imaging involves short-lived molecular species that are not stored but are instead generated in situ, and they typically emit visible light, which does not penetrate far through heterogeneous biological media. Here, we describe a new paradigm for optical molecular imaging using squaraine rotaxane endoperoxides, interlocked fluorescent and chemiluminescent dye molecules that have a squaraine chromophore encapsulated inside a macrocycle endoperoxide. Squaraine rotaxane endoperoxides can be stored indefinitely at temperatures below -20 °C, but upon warming to body temperature they undergo a unimolecular chemical reaction and emit near-infrared light that can pass through a living mouse.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 236 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA.
Jeffrey M
JM
Baumes
Jeremiah J
JJ
Gassensmith
Jay
J
Giblin
Jung-Jae
JJ
Lee
Alexander G
AG
White
William J
WJ
Culligan
W Matthew
WM
Leevy
Masaru
M
Kuno
Bradley D
BD
Smith
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000737:chemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry; D043862:Rotaxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
D003287:Contrast Media; D003503:Cyclobutanes; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010636:Phenols; D043862:Rotaxanes; C480596:squaraine