This invention discloses a class of
afterglow molecules, their preparation method, and applications, belonging to the field of biomedical
optical imaging materials. By performing a Knoevenagel reaction between compound 2 (4-substituted-2,6-dicarboxyphenol) and N-substituted-2-methylbenzothiazolium
bromide, inactive self-sustaining
afterglow molecules QCAs are obtained. QCAs integrate
reactive oxygen species generation, high-energy intermediate formation, and
luminescence functions, possessing advantages such as simplified structure, low energy dissipation, and high reliability. Furthermore, an activatable self-sustaining
afterglow molecule, P-QCA5, is also proposed. P-QCA5, modified with a
phenylboronic acid group, can specifically respond to ONOO. ‑ It also activates the afterglow
signal; leveraging its inherent low background and high
signal-to-
noise ratio, it successfully achieved precise imaging of
mouse tumor models and Parkinson's
disease (PD) models. Compared to traditional
fluorescence imaging, which requires real-time excitation, afterglow imaging does not require real-time external
light excitation, thus avoiding interference from tissue
autofluorescence. It has a higher
signal-to-
noise ratio and deeper tissue detection depth, making it a promising bioimaging optical probe.