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Updated: Nov 18, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Bioimaging and Therapy with Functional Nanomaterials
Published on: September 13, 2024
Organic Nanoparticles with Persistent Luminescence for In Vivo Afterglow Imaging-Guided Photodynamic Therapy
Xiaokun Zheng1, Wenbo Wu2, Yue Zheng1
1Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory for Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Optical imaging-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT), with precise localization and non-invasive treatment of tumors, is an emerging technique with great potential for cancer therapy. However, impaired by tissue auto-fluorescence that causes low signal-to-background ratio (SBR), most fluorescence imaging systems show poor sensitivity to tumors in vivo. In this study, we synthesized organic nanoparticles (ONPs) with persistent luminescence and good biocompatibility for afterglow imaging-guided PDT. The ONPs displayed near-infrared light emission with half-life time at minute level, which offered high SBR and good tissue penetration for in vivo afterglow tumor imaging. Taking advantage of their abundant singlet oxygen generation by NIR laser irradiation guided to the tumor sites, the ONPs also enabled imaging-guided PDT for efficient suppression of tumor growth in mice with minimal damage to major organs.
Insights
Organic nanoparticles enable advanced afterglow imaging for precise tumor detection and photodynamic therapy (PDT). This breakthrough offers high signal-to-background ratios, improving cancer treatment efficacy with minimal organ damage.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) shows promise for cancer treatment but faces challenges with tumor localization due to low signal-to-background ratios (SBR) from auto-fluorescence.
- Current fluorescence imaging techniques often lack the sensitivity needed for effective in vivo tumor detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop organic nanoparticles (ONPs) with persistent luminescence for enhanced afterglow imaging-guided PDT.
- To improve tumor imaging sensitivity and therapeutic efficacy in preclinical cancer models.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of biocompatible organic nanoparticles (ONPs) exhibiting persistent near-infrared luminescence.
- In vivo afterglow imaging to assess tumor localization and signal-to-background ratio (SBR).
- Evaluation of imaging-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy in a mouse tumor model.
Main Results:
- The synthesized ONPs demonstrated minute-level luminescence half-life, enabling high SBR and deep tissue penetration for afterglow tumor imaging.
- NIR laser irradiation of ONPs efficiently generated singlet oxygen for targeted tumor destruction.
- PDT guided by ONP afterglow imaging significantly suppressed tumor growth in mice with minimal damage to surrounding organs.
Conclusions:
- Organic nanoparticles with persistent luminescence offer a viable solution for sensitive in vivo tumor imaging.
- Afterglow imaging-guided PDT using these ONPs represents a promising strategy for effective and minimally invasive cancer therapy.
