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Scintillon-Mimicking Mechanoluminescence for Theranostic Applications.
Xiaochun Xie1,2,3,4, Chao Yang5, Jiying Liu6
1School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel nanoreactor that uses ultrasound to generate light for bioimaging and therapy. This mechanoluminescent system offers enhanced sensitivity and reusability compared to existing technologies.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Mechanoluminescence offers advantages like deep tissue penetration but lacks sensitivity and reusability.
- Biological systems, like dinoflagellate scintillons, utilize mechanoregulation for light emission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a scintillon-mimetic mechanoluminescent nanoreactor (sMLN) for advanced bioimaging and therapy.
- To overcome the limitations of traditional photoluminescence and existing mechanoluminescent materials.
Main Methods:
- Integrated mechanoresponsive ferrocene (Fc) moieties into a flexible organic silica vesicle to create sMLNs.
- Utilized ultrasound (US) irradiation to induce mechanical forces that activate a Fenton-like reaction and luminol-based luminescence.
- Characterized the luminescence properties, including intensity enhancement and half-life.
Main Results:
- sMLNs exhibited repeatable and long-lasting luminescence with a half-life of ~5.73 min.
- Achieved a ~2.2 × 10^3-fold enhancement in luminescence intensity compared to H2O sonoluminescence.
- Demonstrated US-induced mechanoluminescence as an internal light source for bioimaging and photodynamic therapy.
Conclusions:
- The developed sMLN platform provides intense and ultrasensitive mechanoluminescence.
- This technology overcomes light penetration depth limitations for theranostic applications.
- sMLNs represent a powerful mechanochemical tool for advanced biomedical applications.
