Multicolored, Sonosensitizer-optimized Organic Mechanoluminescent Nanoparticles for Functional Sono-optogenetics

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optics and Photonics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Light-based cellular control is limited in deep tissues due to poor optical penetration.
• Ultrasound-triggered mechanoluminescence offers non-invasive light delivery but faces challenges in color tunability and intensity.
• Existing organic mechanoluminescent systems lack a comprehensive understanding of ultrasound-induced emission mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multicolor mechanoluminescence platform for deep tissue light delivery.
• To establish a predictive design principle for high-performance mechanoluminescent materials.
• To demonstrate fiber-free, bidirectional neuromodulation using ultrasound-triggered light.

Main Methods:

• Coupling reactive oxygen species-responsive chemiluminescent donors with fluorescent acceptors via Förster resonance energy transfer.
• Generating tunable emission from blue (459 nm) to red (592 nm) through controlled energy transfer.
• Systematic screening of materials based on electronic energy gap-dependent reactive oxygen species generation.

Main Results:

• A multicolor mechanoluminescence platform with tunable emission from blue to red was successfully developed.
• The platform demonstrated sufficient light intensity and spectral range to activate and inhibit specific neural targets (ChR2, ChRmine, eOPN3).
• A predictive design principle for high-performance mechanoluminescent materials was identified.

Conclusions:

• The developed platform enables non-invasive, deep-tissue neural monitoring and modulation via ultrasound-triggered light.
• This technology provides a foundation for advanced applications in bioimaging, gene editing, and precision therapeutics.
• The study advances the understanding and design of mechanoluminescent materials for biomedical applications.