Three-Dimensional Nanographene Based on Triptycene: Synthesis and Its Application in Fluorescence Imaging

A novel kind of three-dimensional (3D) nanographene based on a triptycene structure bearing three hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) moieties was synthesized efficiently from triiodotriptycene. With the characteristic of intrinsic fluorescence, the 3D nanographene was used as a fluorescent agent for in vitro and in vivo fluorescence imaging with good antiphotobleaching ability and little toxicity.