Recent Advances of Organic Room Temperature Phosphorescence for Biological Applications

Organic room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials have attracted significant attention in the fields of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), secure data encryption, chemical sensing, bioimaging, and scintillation, driven by their superior triplet exciton utilization, large Stokes shifts, and long-lived emission. However, traditional RTP systems are predominantly synthesized in the bulk state, resulting in inherent mechanical brittleness and poor aqueous dispersibility that impede their integration into complex biological environments. Developing high-efficiency nanoscale organic phosphors that maintain intense triplet emission remains a formidable challenge. This review provides a comprehensive overview of prepared methods for phosphorescent nanoparticles (NPs) and elucidates molecular design strategies tailored to optimize RTP performance for biomedical frontiers. Specifically, we highlight their transformative potential in advanced bioimaging and photodynamic cancer therapy. Finally, we discuss current bottlenecks and offer a prospective outlook on future advancements, aiming to bridge the gap between fundamental molecular design and clinical translatability.