Organic NIR-II molecule with long blood half-life for in vivo dynamic vascular imaging
Benhao Li, Mengyao Zhao, Lishuai Feng, Chaoran Dou, Suwan Ding, Gang Zhou, Lingfei Lu, Hongxin Zhang, Feiya Chen, Xiaomin Li, Guangfeng Li, Shichang Zhao, Chunyu Jiang, Yan Wang, Dongyuan Zhao, Yingsheng Cheng, Fan Zhang
Abstract
Real-time monitoring of vessel dysfunction is of great significance in preclinical research. Optical bioimaging in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window provides advantages including high resolution and fast feedback. However, the reported molecular dyes are hampered by limited blood circulation time (~ 5-60 min) and short absorption and emission wavelength, which impede the accurate long-term monitoring. Here, we report a NIR-II molecule (LZ-1105) with absorption and emission beyond 1000 nm. Thanks to the long blood circulation time (half-life of 3.2 h), the fluorophore is used for continuous real-time monitoring of dynamic vascular processes, including ischemic reperfusion in hindlimbs, thrombolysis in carotid artery and opening and recovery of the blood brain barrier (BBB). LZ-1105 provides an approach for researchers to assess vessel dysfunction due to the long excitation and emission wavelength and long-term blood circulation properties.