In Vivo High-Contrast Biomedical Imaging in the Second Near-Infrared Window Using Ultrabright Rare-Earth Nanoparticles.
Rong XuJiantao LiuHuiqun CaoDanying LinXian ChenFuhong HanXiaoyu WengYiping WangLiwei LiuBin YuJunle QuPublished in: Nano letters (2023)
Intravital luminescence imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II) enables noninvasive deep-tissue imaging with high spatiotemporal resolution of live mammals because of the properties of suppressed light scattering and diminished autofluorescence in the long-wavelength region. Herein, we present the synthesis of a downconversion luminescence rare-earth nanocrystal with a core-shell-shell structure (NaYF 4 @NaYbF 4 :Er,Ce@NaYF 4 :Ca). The structure efficiently maximized the doping concentration of the sensitizers and increased Er 3+ luminescence while preventing cross relaxation. Furthermore, Ce 3+ doping in the middle layer efficiently limited the upconversion pathway and increased downconversion by 24-fold to produce bright 1550 nm luminescence under 975 nm excitation. Finally, optimizing the inert shell coating of NaYF 4 :Ca and liposome encapsulation reduced the luminescence quenching impact by water and improved biological metabolism. Thus, our synthesized biocompatible, ultrabright NIR-II probes provide high contrast and resolution for through-scalp and through-skull luminescence imaging of mice cerebral vasculature without craniotomy as well as imaging of mouse hindlimb microvessels.
Keyphrases
- energy transfer
- high resolution
- photodynamic therapy
- fluorescence imaging
- magnetic resonance
- single molecule
- metabolic syndrome
- magnetic resonance imaging
- computed tomography
- breast cancer cells
- mass spectrometry
- skeletal muscle
- adipose tissue
- brain injury
- insulin resistance
- endoplasmic reticulum
- estrogen receptor
- fluorescent probe
- water quality