Issue 19, 2021

Achieving metal-free phosphorescence in dilute solutions for imaging hypoxia in cells and tumors

Abstract

The imaging of hypoxia in tumors by metal-free organic phosphors has long been a challenge due to the lack of molecules capable of phosphorescing efficiently in their dilute solutions. Herein, a new strategy for designing phosphorescent molecules was provided by building selenium-based intramolecular charge transfer systems to address this issue. The results showed that molecules based on this strategy exhibited efficient phosphorescence even in solutions, showed very low cytotoxicity to cells and can be successfully applied to image hypoxia in cells and tumors. In addition, the mechanism responsible for the efficient phosphorescence was investigated by the combination use of transient absorption spectra and theoretical calculations.

Graphical abstract: Achieving metal-free phosphorescence in dilute solutions for imaging hypoxia in cells and tumors

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
07 شوال 1442
Accepted
05 ذو الحجة 1442
First published
05 ذو الحجة 1442

Mater. Chem. Front., 2021,5, 7170-7175

Achieving metal-free phosphorescence in dilute solutions for imaging hypoxia in cells and tumors

P. Li, Y. Guo, Y. Jia, H. Guan, C. Wang, Z. Wu, S. Sun, Z. Qu, P. Zhou and G. Zhao, Mater. Chem. Front., 2021, 5, 7170 DOI: 10.1039/D1QM00733E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements