A silicon rhodamine 1,2-dioxetane chemiluminophore for in vivo near-infrared imaging

Near-infrared (NIR) chemiluminescent probes have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to their attractive properties for in vivo imaging. Herein, we developed a NIR chemiluminophore silicon rhodamine (SiRCL-1) based on the intramolecular energy transfer process from excited state benzoate to a silicon rhodamine emitter under aqueous conditions. SiRCL-1 exhibited dual emission peaks at 540 nm and 680 nm with a high signal penetration through tissue at 680 nm (>30 mm) and long-lasting in vivo luminescence (>50 min), demonstrating its significance as a chemiluminescence scaffold for biological application.