Near-Infrared II Semiconducting Polymer Dots: Chain Packing Modulation and High-Contrast Vascular Imaging in Deep Tissues

Chen，Dandan1,2; Qi，Weizhi1; Liu，Ye1; Yang，Yicheng1; Shi，Tianyue1; Wang，Yongchao1; Fang，Xiaofeng1; Wang，Yingjie3; Xi，Lei1; Wu，Changfeng1

2023

10.1021/acsnano.3c04690

ACS Nano   Impact Factor & Quartile

1936-0851

1936-086X

Fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window has attracted considerable interest in investigations of vascular structure and angiogenesis, providing valuable information for the precise diagnosis of early stage diseases. However, it remains challenging to image small blood vessels in deep tissues because of the strong photon scattering and low fluorescence brightness of the fluorophores. Here, we describe our combined efforts in both fluorescent probe design and image algorithm development for high-contrast vascular imaging in deep turbid tissues such as mouse and rat brains with intact skull. First, we use a polymer blending strategy to modulate the chain packing behavior of the large, rigid, NIR-II semiconducting polymers to produce compact and bright polymer dots (Pdots), a prerequisite for in vivo fluorescence imaging of small blood vessels. We further developed a robust Hessian matrix method to enhance the image contrast of vascular structures, particularly the small and weakly fluorescent vessels. The enhanced vascular images obtained in whole-body mouse imaging exhibit more than an order of magnitude improvement in the signal-to-background ratio (SBR) as compared to the original images. Taking advantage of the bright Pdots and Hessian matrix method, we finally performed through-skull NIR-II fluorescence imaging and obtained a high-contrast cerebral vasculature in both mouse and rat models bearing brain tumors. This study in Pdot probe development and imaging algorithm enhancement provides a promising approach for NIR-II fluorescence vascular imaging of deep turbid tissues.

Hessian matrix in vivo imaging morphology modulation NIR-II fluorescence polymer dots

SCI

English

NI Journal Papers

First ; Corresponding

National Key Ramp;D Program of China[2020YFA0909000] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China["62235007","22204070"] ; Shenzhen Science and Technology Program["KQTD20170810111314625","JCYJ20210324115807021","SGDX20211123114002003"] ; Shenzhen Bay Laboratory[SZBL2021080601002] ; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials[2022B1212010003] ; Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province[ZR2022QF048]

Chemistry ; Science & Technology - Other Topics ; Materials Science

Chemistry, Multidisciplinary ; Chemistry, Physical ; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology ; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

WOS:001050158100001

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

2-s2.0-85169026389

Scopus

1.Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials,Department of Biomedical Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,Guangdong,518055,China
2.College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,Qingdao University,Qingdao,Shandong,266071,China
3.Shenzhen Bay Laboratory,Shenzhen,Guangdong,518132,China

Chen，Dandan,Qi，Weizhi,Liu，Ye,et al. Near-Infrared II Semiconducting Polymer Dots: Chain Packing Modulation and High-Contrast Vascular Imaging in Deep Tissues[J]. ACS Nano,2023,17(17).

Chen，Dandan.,Qi，Weizhi.,Liu，Ye.,Yang，Yicheng.,Shi，Tianyue.,...&Wu，Changfeng.(2023).Near-Infrared II Semiconducting Polymer Dots: Chain Packing Modulation and High-Contrast Vascular Imaging in Deep Tissues.ACS Nano,17(17).

Chen，Dandan,et al."Near-Infrared II Semiconducting Polymer Dots: Chain Packing Modulation and High-Contrast Vascular Imaging in Deep Tissues".ACS Nano 17.17(2023).