Optothermal-Stimulated Persistent Luminescence Imaging and Therapy (OSPLIT)

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Optical Imaging

Background:

• Persistent luminescent nanomaterials offer advantages for in vivo bioimaging by minimizing autofluorescence.
• Current limitations include low brightness and signal decay, hindering applications like tumor theranostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce OSPLIT (optothermal-stimulated persistent luminescence imaging therapy), a dual-function strategy for enhanced bioimaging and tumor treatment.
• To overcome the limitations of low brightness and rapid signal decay in persistent luminescent nanomaterials.

Main Methods:

• Developed OSPLIT strategy utilizing lanthanide-doped nanoparticles.
• Employed optothermal stimulation to enhance charge carrier release from deep traps.
• Evaluated performance in high-contrast imaging of lymph node metastases in living mice.
• Assessed therapeutic efficacy in ablating lymph node metastasis and preventing tumor spread.

Main Results:

• Achieved a 73-fold increase in persistent luminescence within the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window.
• Demonstrated high-contrast imaging of lymph node metastases with an 11.8-fold greater signal-to-background ratio compared to conventional NIR-II fluorescence.
• Confirmed the effectiveness of optothermal-boosted nanoparticles in ablating lymph node metastasis and preventing tumor spread.

Conclusions:

• Optothermal stimulation is a viable strategy to significantly enhance persistent luminescence for biomedical applications.
• OSPLIT offers a promising dual-modality approach for advanced in vivo imaging and targeted tumor theranostics.
• This technology holds potential for improving cancer detection and treatment outcomes.