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Aggregation‐Enhanced Photoluminescence and Photoacoustics of Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters in Lipid Nanodiscs (NANO 2 )
Author(s) -
Tahmasbi Rad Armin,
Bao Yue,
Jang HyunSook,
Xia Yan,
Sharma Hari,
Dormidontova Elena E.,
Zhao Jing,
Arora Jaspreet,
John Vijay T.,
Tang Ben Zhong,
Dainese Tiziano,
Hariri Ali,
Jokerst Jesse V.,
Maran Flavio,
Nieh MuPing
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202009750
Subject(s) - nanoclusters , photoluminescence , materials science , fluorescence , biocompatibility , luminescence , excited state , nanotechnology , transmission electron microscopy , nanoparticle , optoelectronics , optics , physics , nuclear physics , metallurgy
The authors designed a structurally stable nano‐in‐nano (NANO 2 ) system highly capable of bioimaging via an aggregation‐enhanced NIR excited emission and photoacoustic response achieved based on atomically precise gold nanoclusters protected by linear thiolated ligands [Au 25 (SC n H 2 n +1 ) 18 , n = 4–16] encapsulated in discoidal phospholipid bicelles through a one‐pot synthesis. The detailed morphological characterization of NANO 2 is conducted using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, small/wide angle X‐ray scattering with the support of molecular dynamics simulations, providing information on the location of Au nanoclusters in NANO 2 . The photoluminescence observed for NANO 2 is 20–60 times more intense than that of the free Au nanoclusters, with both excitation and emission wavelengths in the near‐infrared range, and the photoacoustic signal is more than tripled. The authors attribute this newly discovered aggregation‐enhanced photoluminescence and photoacoustic signals to the restriction of intramolecular motion of the clusters’ ligands. With the advantages of biocompatibility and high cellular uptake, NANO 2 is potentially applicable for both in vitro and in vivo imaging, as the authors demonstrate with NIR excited emission from in vitro A549 human lung and the KB human cervical cancer cells.