Open AccessExtending the Near-Infrared Emission Range of Indium Phosphide Quantum Dots for Multiplexed In Vivo Imaging
Author(s) -
Alexander Saeboe,
A. I. Nikiforov,
Reyhaneh Toufanian,
Joshua Kays,
Margaret Chern,
Jorge Paolo Casas,
Keyi Han,
Andrei Piryatinski,
Dennis Jones,
Allison M. Dennis
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.853
H-Index - 488
eISSN - 1530-6992
pISSN - 1530-6984
DOI - 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c00600
Subject(s) - indium phosphide , quantum dot , photoluminescence , materials science , optoelectronics , heterojunction , indium , near infrared spectroscopy , nanoparticle , gallium phosphide , infrared , photoexcitation , nanotechnology , optics , gallium arsenide , excitation , physics , electrical engineering , engineering
This report of the reddest emitting indium phosphide quantum dots (InP QDs) to date demonstrates tunable, near-infrared (NIR) photoluminescence (PL) as well as PL multiplexing in the first optical tissue window while avoiding toxic constituents. This synthesis overcomes the InP "growth bottleneck" and extends the emission peak of InP QDs deeper into the first optical tissue window using an inverted QD heterostructure, specifically ZnSe/InP/ZnS core/shell/shell nanoparticles. The QDs exhibit InP shell thickness-dependent tunable emission with peaks ranging from 515-845 nm. The high absorptivity of InP yields effective photoexcitation of the QDs with UV, visible, and NIR wavelengths. These nanoparticles extend the range of tunable direct-bandgap emission from InP-based nanostructures, effectively overcoming a synthetic barrier that has prevented InP-based QDs from reaching their full potential as NIR imaging agents. Multiplexed lymph node imaging in a mouse model demonstrates the potential of the NIR-emitting InP particles for in vivo imaging.