Lower Energy Excitation of Water Soluble Near-Infrared Emitting Mixed-Ligand Metallacrowns

By combining advantages of two series of lanthanide(III)/zinc(II) metallacrowns (MCs) assembled using pyrazine- (pyzHA(2-)) and quinoxaline- (quinoHA(2-)) hydroximate building blocks ligands, we created here water-soluble mixed-ligand MCs with extended absorption to the visible range. The Yb-III analogue demonstrated improved photophysical properties in the near-infrared (NIR) range in cell culture media, facilitating its application for NIR optical imaging in living HeLa cells.

Automated summary

By combining pyrazine- and quinoxaline-based hydroximate building blocks ligands, we created water-soluble mixed-ligand metallacrowns (MCs) with extended absorption to the visible range. The Yb-III analogue showed improved photophysical properties in the near-infrared (NIR) range in cell culture media, making it suitable for NIR optical imaging in living HeLa cells.