Open AccessA Phosphorescent Iridium(III) Complex‐Modified Nanoprobe for Hypoxia Bioimaging Via Time‐Resolved Luminescence Microscopy
Author(s) -
Lv Wen,
Yang Tianshe,
Yu Qi,
Zhao Qiang,
Zhang Kenneth Yin,
Liang Hua,
Liu Shujuan,
Li Fuyou,
Huang Wei
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.201500107
Subject(s) - autofluorescence , phosphorescence , nanoprobe , luminescence , iridium , luminescent measurements , materials science , photon upconversion , persistent luminescence , microscopy , fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy , nanotechnology , nanoparticle , fluorescence , photochemistry , chemistry , optoelectronics , optics , biochemistry , physics , thermoluminescence , catalysis
Oxygen plays a crucial role in many biological processes. Accurate monitoring of oxygen level is important for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Autofluorescence is an unavoidable interference in luminescent bioimaging, so that an amount of research work has been devoted to reducing background autofluorescence. Herein, a phosphorescent iridium(III) complex‐modified nanoprobe is developed, which can monitor oxygen concentration and also reduce autofluorescence under both downconversion and upconversion channels. The nanoprobe is designed based on the mesoporous silica coated lanthanide‐doped upconversion nanoparticles, which contains oxygen‐sensitive iridium(III) complex in the outer silica shell. To image intracellular hypoxia without the interferences of autofluorescence, time‐resolved luminescent imaging technology and near‐infrared light excitation, both of which can reduce autofluorescence effectively, are adopted in this work. Moreover, gradient O 2 concentration can be detected clearly through confocal microscopy luminescence intensity imaging, phosphorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, and time‐gated imaging, which is meaningful to oxygen sensing in tissues with nonuniform oxygen distribution.