Dual-Functional NIR AIEgens for High-Fidelity Imaging of Lysosomes in Cells and Photodynamic Therapy

• DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.9b02090
• Publication Date: 2019-12-19T12:25:02Z
• Authors: Yanpeng Dai; Fangru He; Hefang Ji; Xinxin Zhao; Saima Misal; Zhengjian Qi
• Keywords: Biocompatibility

Design and synthesis of water-soluble near-infrared (NIR) emissive fluorescent molecules with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics, perfect signal-to-noise ratio for imaging organelle, photodynamic therapy (PDT) functions has received enormous attention. However, the dual-functional NIR AIEgens high-fidelity tracking lysosome ablation cancer cells was rarely reported. Herein, a series AIE luminogens (AIEgens) typical effect, good biocompatibility, superior photostability, high brightness, excellent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation ability were developed, which had different electronic push–pull strength conjugate system size in molecular structure. These could specifically "light up" dynamically long-term track lysosomes living zebrafish ultrahigh colocalization Pearson's correlation coefficients (Rr: 0.9687) overlap coefficient (R: 0.9967). Additionally, MPAT luminescence as photosensitizer used cells, owing to prompt ROS under green light irradiation (495–530 nm, 10 mW cm–2). Hence, this research not only expands application range but also provides useful insights into design split-new method treatment cancer.