Rational construction of a reversible arylazo-based NIR probe for cycling hypoxia imaging in vivo

Reversible NIR luminescent probes with negligible photocytotoxicity are required for long-term tracking of cycling hypoxia in vivo. However, almost all of the reported organic fluorescent hypoxia probes reported until now were irreversible. Here we report a reversible arylazo-conjugated fluorescent probe (HDSF) for cycling hypoxia imaging. HDSF displays an off-on fluorescence switch at 705 nm in normoxia-hypoxia cycles. Mass spectroscopic and theoretical studies confirm that the reversible sensing behavior is attributed to the two electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl groups, which stabilizes the reduction intermediate phenylhydrazine and blocks the further reductive decomposition. Cycling hypoxia monitoring in cells and zebrafish embryos is realized by HDSF using confocal imaging. Moreover, hypoxic solid tumors are visualized and the ischemia-reperfusion process in mice is monitored in real-time. This work provides an effective strategy to construct organic fluorescent probes for cycling hypoxia imaging and paves the way for the study of cycling hypoxia biology.

A Solid-State Fluorescence Switch Based on Triphenylethene-Functionalized Dithienylethene With Aggregation-Induced Emission

The development of novel dithienylethene-based fluorescence switches in the aggregated state, and the solid state is highly desirable for potential application in the fields of optoelectronics and photopharmacology. In this contribution, three novel triphenylethene-functionalized dithienylethenes (1–3) have been designed and prepared by appending triphenylethene moieties at one end of dithienylethene unit. Their chemical structures are confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS (ESI). They display good photochromic behaviors with excellent fatigue resistance upon irradiation with UV or visible light in Tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution. Before irradiation with UV light, they exhibit Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE) properties and luminescence behaviors in the solid state. Moreover, upon alternating irradiation with UV/visible light, they display effective fluorescent switching behaviors in the aggregated state and the solid state. The experimental results have been validated by the Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Thus, they can be utilized as novel fluorescence switches integrated in smart, solid-state optoelectronic materials and photopharmacology.

The modulation effect of charge transfer on photoluminescence in metal–organic frameworks

The intramolecular ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) process acts as a fluorescence switch in MOF nanomaterials, effectively quenching or enabling fluorescence.

Wavelength-Depending Multicolor Photochromism and Fluorescence Switch Based on an AIE-Active Skeleton by Regulating the Conjugation of Photoactive Unit

Organic photochromic materials present extraordinary value and exciting prospect in numerous photo-controlled practical applications; however, it still encounters great challenge to achieve multiple-wavelength-controlled multicolor photochromism with dual-mode readout. Herein, we...