Thermoresponsive swelling of photoacoustic single-chain nanoparticles

NIR-fluorescent LCST-type single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) change their photophysical behaviour upon heating, caused by depletion of water from the swollen SCNP interiors. This thermoresponsive effect leads to a fluctuating photoacoustic (PA) signal which can be used as a contrast mechanism for PA imaging. Heat-triggered enhancement of contrast in pump-probe photoacoustic measurements is reported. Changes in polarity lead to considerable effects in photophysical properties of fluorescently labelled single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs).

Automated summary

NIR-fluorescent LCST-type single-chain nanoparticles undergo changes in photophysical behavior upon heating, which can be used as a contrast mechanism for PA imaging. Additionally, changes in polarity have significant effects on the photophysical properties of fluorescently labeled single-chain nanoparticles.