Single-Molecule Detection of DNA-Stabilized Silver Nanoclusters Emitting at the NIR I/II Border

The near-infrared (NIR) I and II regions are known for having good light transparency of tissue and less scatter compared to the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, the number of bright fluorophores in these regions is limited. Here we present a detailed spectroscopic characterization of a DNA-stabilized silver nanocluster (DNA-AgNC) that emits at around 960 nm in solution. The DNA-AgNC converts to blue-shifted emitters over time. Embedding these DNA-AgNCs in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) shows that they are bright and photostable enough to be detected at the single-molecule level. Photon antibunching experiments were performed to confirm single emitter behavior. Our findings highlight that the screening and exploration of DNA-AgNCs in the NIR II region might yield promising bright, photostable emitters that could help develop bioimaging applications with unprecedented signal-to-background ratios and single-molecule sensitivity.