College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
Small. 2023 Aug;19(35):e2300392. doi: 10.1002/smll.202300392. Epub 2023 May 1.
Second near infrared (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) fluorescence lifetime imaging is a powerful tool for biosensing, anti-counterfeiting, and multiplex imaging. However, the low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of fluorescence probes in NIR-II region limits its data collecting efficiency and accuracy, especially in multiplex molecular imaging in vivo. To solve this problem, lanthanide-doped nanoparticles (NPs) β-NaErF : 2%Ce@NaYbF @NaYF with high PLQY and tunable PL lifetime through multi-ion doping and core-shell structural design, are presented. The obtained internal PLQY can reach up to 50.1% in cyclohexane and 9.2% in water under excitation at 980 nm. Inspired by the above results, a fast NIR-II fluorescence lifetime imaging of whole-body vascular in mice is successfully performed by using the homebuilt fluorescence lifetime imaging system, which reveals a murine abdominal capillary network with low background. A further demonstration of fluorescence lifetime multiplex imaging is carried out in molecular imaging of atherosclerosis cells and different organs in vivo through NPs conjugating with specific peptides and different injection modalities, respectively. These results demonstrate that the high PLQY NPs combined with the homebuilt fluorescence lifetime imaging system can realize a fast and high signal-to-noise fluorescence lifetime imaging; thus, opening a road for multiplex molecular imaging of atherosclerosis.
近红外二区（NIR-II，1000-1700nm）荧光寿命成像是用于生物传感、防伪和多重成像的强大工具。然而，NIR-II 区域荧光探针的低荧光量子产率（PLQY）限制了其数据采集效率和准确性，特别是在体内多重分子成像中。为了解决这个问题，通过多离子掺杂和核壳结构设计，提出了具有高光致发光量子产率（PLQY）和可调 PL 寿命的掺镧纳米粒子（NPs）β-NaErF：2%Ce@NaYbF@NaYF。在 980nm 激发下，在环己烷和水中的内 PLQY 分别高达 50.1%和 9.2%。受上述结果的启发，通过使用自制的荧光寿命成像系统，成功地对小鼠全身血管进行了快速 NIR-II 荧光寿命成像，显示出低背景的小鼠腹部毛细血管网络。通过 NPs 与特定肽结合和不同的注射方式分别进行动脉粥样硬化细胞和体内不同器官的荧光寿命多重成像的进一步演示。这些结果表明，高光致发光量子产率 NPs 结合自制的荧光寿命成像系统可以实现快速高信噪比的荧光寿命成像；从而为动脉粥样硬化的多重分子成像开辟了道路。
