Water-soluble bright NIR AIEgens with hybrid ROS for wash-free mitochondrial off-on imaging and photodynamic therapy

Several aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) with excellent water-solubility and near-infrared emission were designed and synthesized for wash-free off-on mitochondrial imaging and photodynamic therapy of HeLa cells. The AIEgen TEPP exhibits both bright near-infrared emission (phi(F) = 17.8%) and high hybrid ROS productivity (including OH center dot and O-1(2)).

Automated summary

In this study, several AIEgens with excellent properties were designed and synthesized for wash-free off-on mitochondrial imaging and photodynamic therapy of HeLa cells.