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Updated: Apr 14, 2026
In Vivo Two-photon Imaging Of Experience-dependent Molecular Changes In Cortical Neurons
Published on: January 5, 2013
Long-term two-photon neuroimaging with a photostable AIE luminogen
Jun Qian1, Zhenfeng Zhu1, Chris Wai Tung Leung2
1State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentations, Centre for Optical and Electromagnetic Research, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Sensing Technologies; JORCEP (Sino-Swedish Joint Research Center of Photonics), Zhejiang University, 310058 Hangzhou, China.
Tetraphenylethene-triphenylphosphonium (TPE-TPP) probes resist photobleaching for long-term neuroimaging. Their aggregation-induced emission and two-photon fluorescence enable deep brain imaging of neural cells and microglia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Imaging
- Materials Science
Background:
- Two-photon microscopy is vital for visualizing neural structures and activity.
- Photobleaching limits long-term imaging with conventional fluorescent probes.
- Need for photostable probes for extended neuroscience research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate tetraphenylethene-triphenylphosphonium (TPE-TPP) as a photostable fluorescent probe for neuroimaging.
- To leverage TPE-TPP's aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties for enhanced imaging stability.
- To demonstrate TPE-TPP's utility in deep in vivo neuroimaging applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of TPE-TPP.
- Formation of TPE-TPP nanoaggregates.
- Two-photon microscopy for ex vivo and in vivo neuroimaging.
- Assessment of photostability and imaging depth.
Main Results:
- TPE-TPP exhibits aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics.
- TPE-TPP nanoaggregates demonstrate high resistance to photobleaching.
- Successful long-term tracking of neural cells and brain-microglia.
- Effective deep in vivo neuroimaging using TPE-TPP's two-photon fluorescence.
Conclusions:
- TPE-TPP is a highly photostable fluorescent probe suitable for long-term neuroimaging.
- AIE properties of TPE-TPP overcome limitations of traditional fluorophores.
- TPE-TPP facilitates advanced deep in vivo imaging in neuroscience research.
