Alleviating NIR-II emission quenching in ring-fused fluorophore via manipulating dimer populations for superior fluorescence imaging

• DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-01787-0
• Publication Date: 2025-03-04T07:50:21Z
• Authors: Xiaofei Miao; Mingxuan Jia; Xianwei Weng; Jie Zhang; Yonghui Pan; Hui Zhao; Zhongzheng Yu; Quli Fan; Wenbo Hu
• Keywords: Fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy

Emission quenching resulting from fluorophore aggregation has long been a significant challenge in optimizing emission-based technologies, such as fluorescence imaging and optoelectronic devices. Alleviating this aggregates is crucial, yet progress impeded by the limited understanding of nature impact on emission. Here, we elucidate critical role dimeric aggregate (dimer) alleviating second near-infrared (NIR-II, 900-1700 nm) emission ring-fused 4F for superior imaging. Spectral decomposition molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate predominance dimer populations aggregates. Notably, dimers exhibit significantly weaker but intense intermolecular nonradiative (interNR) decay compared to monomers, demonstrated ultrafast spectra quantum calculation. Therefore, predominant population with weak pronounced interNR feature underlies This discovery guides preparation ultrabright NIR-II nanofluorophore (4F NP3s) decreasing populations, which show 5-fold greater brightness than indocyanine green, enabling resolution visualizing blood vessels. work offers valuable insights into aggregation-caused quenching, broad implications extending far beyond