Open AccessTime-resolved luminescence imaging of intracellular oxygen levels based on long-lived phosphorescent iridium(III) complex
Author(s) -
Shujuan Liu,
Yangliu Zhang,
Hua Liang,
Zejing Chen,
Ziyu Liu,
Qiang Zhao
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.24.015757
Subject(s) - phosphorescence , luminescence , iridium , photoluminescence , materials science , luminescent measurements , persistent luminescence , fluorescence , oxygen , photochemistry , fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy , optoelectronics , phosphorescent organic light emitting diode , optics , chemistry , thermoluminescence , physics , biochemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis
Time-resolved luminescence imaging of intracellular oxygen levels has been demonstrated based on long-lived phosphorescent signal. A phosphorescent dinuclear iridium(III) complex Ir1 has been designed and synthesized, which exhibits excellent optical properties, such as high quantum yields, large Stokes shift, high photostability and long emission lifetime. The phosphorescent intensity and lifetime of complex are very sensitive to oxygen levels. Thus, the application of Ir1 for monitoring intracellular oxygen levels has been realized successfully. Especially, utilizing the advantageous long emission lifetime of Ir1, the background fluorescence interference could be eliminated effectively by using the photoluminescence lifetime imaging and time-gated luminescence imaging techniques, improving the signal-to-noise ratios in bioimaging.