Near-infrared fluorescence imaging using organic dye nanoparticles.
Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging in the 700-1000 nm wavelength range has been very attractive for early detection of cancers. Conventional NIR dyes often suffer from limitation of low brightness due to self-quenching, insufficient photo- and bioenvironmental stability, and small Stokes shift. Herein, we present a strategy of using small-molecule organic dye nanoparticles (ONPs) to encapsulate NIR dyes to enable efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer to obtain NIR probes with remarkably enhanced performance for in vitro and in vivo imaging. In our design, host ONPs are used as not only carriers to trap and stabilize NIR dyes, but also light-harvesting agent to transfer energy to NIR dyes to enhance their brightness. In comparison with pure NIR dyes, our organic dye nanoparticles possess almost 50-fold increased brightness, large Stokes shifts (∼250 nm) and dramatically enhanced photostability. With surface modification, these NIR-emissive organic nanoparticles have water-dispersity and size- and fluorescence- stability over pH values from 2 to 10 for almost 60 days. With these superior advantages, these NIR-emissive organic nanoparticles can be used for highly efficient folic-acid aided specific targeting in vivo and ex vivo cellular imaging. Finally, during in vivo imaging, the nanoparticles show negligible toxicity. Overall, the results clearly display a potential application of using the NIR-emissive organic nanoparticles for in vitro and in vivo imaging.
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM) & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
Jia
J
Yu
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM) & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China. Electronic address: xjzhang@suda.edu.cn.
Xiujuan
X
Zhang
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM) & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
Xiaojun
X
Hao
Nano-organic Photoelectronic Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China.
Xiaohong
X
Zhang
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM) & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
Mengjiao
M
Zhou
Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) & Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: apcslee@cityu.edu.hk.
Chun-Sing
CS
Lee
Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) & Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: xianfeng.chen@cityu.edu.hk.
Xianfeng
X
Chen
D000818:Animals; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009930:Organic Chemicals
Fluorescence resonance energy transfer; In vitro imaging; In vivo imaging; NIR-emissive organic nanoparticles