Afterglow bio-applications by utilizing triplet excited states of organic materials

Organic room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials with persistent afterglow exhibit good biocompatibility, high signal to noise ratio and time resolved imaging characteristics in bio-applications. Moreover, they can serve as hypoxia detection probes and photodynamic therapy agents for the sensitivity of triplet excitons toward oxygen in the surroundings. In this review, the recent progress of in vitro and in vivo afterglow bioimaging is presented by utilizing organic RTP materials. The strategies of molecular design and controlling methods of molecular packing were summarized, to prompt this new rising research field, with the emphasis on high intensity, ultralong lifetimes and red-shifted wavelengths of phosphorescence emission.

Automated summary

This review presents the recent progress of in vitro and in vivo afterglow bioimaging using organic RTP materials. The strategies of molecular design and controlling methods of molecular packing are summarized, with emphasis on high intensity, ultralong lifetimes and red-shifted wavelengths of phosphorescence emission.