Near-Infrared II Polymer Fluorescent Sub-Microsphere for Live Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional polymer fluorescent sub-microspheres have poor penetrability and high background interference due to emitting wavelengths below 780 nm, leading to low sensitivity in fluorescence detection and a high demand for color filters, especially in live imaging and tissue diagnostics.
Innovation Solution
A near-infrared II polymer fluorescent sub-microsphere is developed with a method involving dissolving fluorochrome in a water-immiscible organic solvent, distributing polymer sub-microspheres in a sodium dodecyl sulfonate solution, subjecting the mixture to ultrasonic treatment, swelling to encapsulate the fluorochrome, and heating to crystallize it within nanopores, resulting in a wavelength range of 1000 nm to 1700 nm under excitation light less than 1000 nm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional polymer fluorescent sub-microspheres are used, then the fluorescent molecules can be encapsulated, but the emitting wavelength is below 780 nm resulting in poor penetrability and intense background fluorescence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of emitting wavelength from visible region (below 780 nm) to near-infrared II region (1000-1700 nm) by selecting specific fluorochromes and optimizing their encapsulation in polymer sub-microspheres. This parameter shift resolves the contradiction by moving the emission band to a region with better tissue penetrability and lower background fluorescence.
2Reliability
If traditional polymer fluorescent sub-microspheres are used, then fluorescent labeling can be achieved, but the quantum efficiency is low and the interval between exciting and emitting wavelength is small resulting in poor analysis sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes multiple parameters including quantum efficiency and wavelength interval by selecting near-infrared II fluorochromes with inherently high quantum efficiency and large Stokes shift. The encapsulation method preserves these optical properties while providing the benefits of sub-microsphere labeling, thereby improving analysis sensitivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If fluorochrome is dissolved in organic solvent and encapsulated through swelling, then the encapsulation efficiency is improved, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-dissolving the fluorochrome in water-immiscible organic solvent before the swelling step. This preliminary preparation ensures uniform distribution of fluorochrome throughout the polymer matrix during swelling, achieving high encapsulation efficiency while keeping the overall process relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water-immiscible organic solvent as an intermediary medium to facilitate the encapsulation process. The organic solvent acts as a bridge between the hydrophobic fluorochrome and the hydrophilic polymer matrix, enabling efficient encapsulation through the swelling process without requiring complex equipment or multiple steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The near-infrared II polymer fluorescent sub-microsphere achieves high quantum efficiency, strong penetrability, and low background interference, significantly enhancing fluorescence detection sensitivity and signal intensity, suitable for live imaging and biolabeling applications.
Implementation Method 1
swelling the emulsion such that the fluorochrome solution enters nanopores formed during swelling of the polymer sub-microsphere
Implementation Method 2
nanopores formed during swelling of the polymer sub-microsphere
Implementation Method 3
heating the second mixture to volatilize the organic solvent
Implementation Method 4
the fluorochrome is crystallized out and encapsulated in the nanopores
Implementation Method 5
subjecting a first mixture of the fluorochrome solution and the sub-microsphere solution to ultrasonic treatment
Implementation Method 6
obtaining an emulsion
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a near-infrared II polymer fluorescent sub-microsphere and a method for preparing the same. The method includes steps of 1) dissolving fluorochrome in a water-immiscible organic solvent, thus obtaining a fluorochrome solution; 2) distributing a polymer sub-microsphere into a sodium dodecyl sulfonate solution, thus obtaining a sub-microsphere solution with the polymer sub-microsphere as a carrier for the fluorochrome; 3) subjecting a first mixture of the fluorochrome solution and the sub-microsphere solution to ultrasonic treatment, thus obtaining an emulsion; 4) swelling the emulsion such that the fluorochrome solution enters nanopores formed during swelling of the polymer sub-microsphere, thus obtaining a second mixture; and 5) heating the second mixture to volatilize the organic solvent, such that the fluorochrome is crystallized out and encapsulated in the nanopores, thus obtaining the near-infrared II polymer fluorescent sub-microsphere.