Title: Bright Chromenylium Polymethine Dyes Enable Fast, Four-Color In Vivo Imaging with Shortwave Infrared Detection

Abstract

Optical imaging within the shortwave infrared (SWIR, 1000–2000 nm) region of the electromagnetic spectrum has enabled high-resolution and high-contrast imaging in mice, non-invasively. Polymethine dyes, with their narrow absorption spectra and high absorption coefficients, are optimal probes for fast and multiplexed SWIR imaging. Here, we expand upon the multiplexing capabilities in SWIR imaging by obtaining brighter polymethine dyes with varied excitation wavelengths spaced throughout the near-infrared (700–1000 nm) region. Building on the flavylium polymethine dye scaffold, we explored derivatives with functional group substitution at the 2-position, deemed chromenylium polymethine dyes. The reported dyes have reduced nonradiative rates and enhanced emissive properties, enabling non-invasive imaging in mice in a single color at 300 fps and in three colors at 100 fps. Combined with polymethine dyes containing a red-shifted julolidine flavylium heterocycle and indocyanine green, distinct channels with well-separated excitation wavelengths provide non-invasive video-rate in vivo imaging in four colors.

Authors:

Cosco, Emily D.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Cosco, Emily D."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-9902-6176"

Arús, Bernardo A.  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Arús, Bernardo A."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-6132-7793"

Spearman, Anthony L. ^[3]; Atallah, Timothy L. ^[3]; Lim, Irene ^[3]; Leland, Olivia S. ^[3]; Caram, Justin R.  ^[3];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Caram, Justin R."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-5126-3829"

Bischof, Thomas S. ^[2]; Bruns, Oliver T. ^[4]; Sletten, Ellen M.  ^[3]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Sletten, Ellen M."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-0049-7278"

---

+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States, Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
2. Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
3. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
4. Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, D-80333 München, Germany

Publication Date:

Mon May 03 00:00:00 EDT 2021

Research Org.:

Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Science Foundation (NSF); National Institutes of Health (NIH); Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; German Research Foundation (DFG)

OSTI Identifier:

1781436

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1784320; OSTI ID: 1908039

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0019245; DGE-1144087; CHE-1048804; 1S10OD016387; 1R01EB027172; FG-2018-10855; BR 5355/2-1

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Journal of the American Chemical Society

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal Volume: 143 Journal Issue: 18; Journal ID: ISSN 0002-7863

Publisher:

American Chemical Society

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Dyes and pigments; Optical imaging; Biological imaging; Quantum mechanics; Fluorophores