Redox-Active AIEgen-Derived Plasmonic and Fluorescent Core@Shell Nanoparticles for Multimodality Bioimaging

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Imaging
• Materials Science

Background:

• Multimodality imaging offers superior diagnostic accuracy through combined sensitivity, resolution, and depth.
• Integrating fluorescence and plasmonic modalities is challenging due to fluorescence quenching by metal nanoparticles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel core-shell nanoparticle integrating fluorescence and plasmonic properties for multimodality imaging.
• To overcome the inherent incompatibility between fluorescent and plasmonic materials.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized silver@AIEgen core-shell nanoparticles (AACSNs) via a redox reaction.
• Utilized aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) for fluorescence and silver nanoparticles for plasmonic properties.
• Evaluated nanoparticle performance in living cells and small animal models.

Main Results:

• AACSNs demonstrated strong aggregated-state fluorescence and distinct plasmonic scattering.
• Achieved high performance in fluorescence imaging, dark-field microscopy, and X-ray computed tomography.
• AACSNs showed good biocompatibility and environmental stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed AACSNs are effective for multimodality imaging, overcoming fluorescence quenching issues.
• These nanoparticles show significant potential for in vivo diagnostics and biological research.
• The synergistic core-shell design offers a versatile platform for advanced imaging applications.