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Optimizing the Geometry of Photoacoustically Active Gold Nanoparticles for Biomedical Imaging
2020, García-Álvarez, Rafaela, Chen, Lisa, Nedilko, Alexander, Sánchez-Iglesias, Ana, Rix, Anne, Lederle, Wiltrud, Pathak, Vertika, Lammers, Twan, von Plessen, Gero, Kostarelos, Kostas, Liz-Marzán, Luis M., Kuehne, Alexander J.C., Chigrin, Dmitry N.
Photoacoustics is an upcoming modality for biomedical imaging, which promises minimal invasiveness at high penetration depths of several centimeters. For superior photoacoustic contrast, imaging probes with high photothermal conversion efficiency are required. Gold nanoparticles are among the best performing photoacoustic imaging probes. However, the geometry and size of the nanoparticles determine their photothermal efficiency. We present a systematic theoretical analysis to determine the optimum nanoparticle geometry with respect to photoacoustic efficiency in the near-infrared spectral range, for superior photoacoustic contrast. Theoretical predictions are illustrated by experimental results for two of the most promising nanoparticle geometries, namely, high aspect ratio gold nanorods and gold nanostars. Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society.
All-Conjugated Polymer Core-Shell and Core-Shell-Shell Particles with Tunable Emission Profiles and White Light Emission
2021, Haehnle, Bastian, Schuster, Philipp A., Chen, Lisa, Kuehne, Alexander J. C.
Future applications of conjugated polymer particles (CPP) in medicine, organic photonics, and optoelectronics greatly depend on high performance and precisely adjustable optical properties of the particles. To meet these criteria, current particle systems often combine conjugated polymers with inorganic particles in core-shell geometries, extending the possible optical characteristics of CPP. However, current conjugated polymer particles are restricted to a single polymer phase composed of a distinct polymer or a polymer blend. Here, a synthetic toolbox is presented that enables the synthesis of monodisperse core-shell and core-shell-shell particles, which consist entirely of conjugated polymers but of different types in the core and the shells. Seeded and fed-batch dispersion polymerizations based on Suzuki-Miyaura-type cross-coupling are investigated. The different approaches allow accurate control over the created interface between the conjugated polymer phases and thus also over the energy transfer phenomena between them. This approach opens up completely new synthetic freedom for fine tuning of the optical properties of CPP, enabling, for example, the synthesis of individual white light-emitting particles.
Mixed-halide triphenyl methyl radicals for site-selective functionalization and polymerization
2021, Chen, Lisa, Arnold, Mona, Blinder, Rémi, Jelezko, Fedor, Kuehne, Alexander J. C.
Derivatives of the stable, luminescent tris-2,4,6-trichlorophenylmethyl (TTM) radical exhibit unique doublet spin properties that are of interest for applications in optoelectronics, spintronics, and energy storage. However, poor reactivity of the chloride-moieties limits the yield of functionalization and thus the accessible variety of high performance luminescent radicals. Here, we present a pathway to obtain mixed-bromide and chloride derivatives of TTM by simple Friedel–Crafts alkylation. The resulting radical compounds show higher stability and site-specific reactivity in cross-coupling reactions, due to the better leaving group character of the para-bromide. The mixed halide radicals give access to complex, and so far inaccessible luminescent open-shell small molecules, as well as polymers carrying the radical centers in their backbone. The new mixed-halide triphenyl methyl radicals represent a powerful building block for customized design and synthesis of stable luminescent radicals.