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Updated: Nov 19, 2025
A Novel Technique for Generating and Observing Chemiluminescence in a Biological Setting
Published on: March 9, 2017
Multicolor Chemiluminescent Resonance Energy-Transfer System for In Vivo High-Contrast and Targeted Imaging
Mengdi Li1, Xiangyi Huang1, Jicun Ren1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Chemiluminescence (CL) resonance energy transfer (CRET) has received great attention due to its fascinating applications in in vivo imaging and photodynamic therapy. Here, we report a highly efficient CRET polymer dot (CRET-Pdots)-based system using catalytic CL reagents as energy donors and fluorescent polymers and dyes as energy acceptors. CRET-Pdots consist of Fe(III) deuteroporphyrin IX (CL catalyst), fluorescent polymers, and dyes. The CL intensity and duration are markedly enhanced by using ultrasensitive catalytic CL reaction of luminol analogue-H2O2, and the CL emission wavelength can be adjusted by one-step/two-step energy-transfer strategies. CRET-Pdots show intensive multicolor CL (about 3000× enhanced), an adjustable emission wavelength (470-720 nm), long CL duration (over 8 h), and a high CRET efficiency (50%). CRET-Pdots possess excellent biocompatibility, sensitive response to reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ultrahigh catalytic activity. They are successfully used for high-contrast real-time ROS imaging and in vivo tumor-targeted imaging with an excellent signal-to-noise ratio (over 90).
