Fluorescence-free bis(dithiolene)nickel dyes for surface-enhanced resonance Raman imaging in the second near-infrared window

Jin Li; Binge Deng; Jian Ye

doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122211

Fluorescence-free bis(dithiolene)nickel dyes for surface-enhanced resonance Raman imaging in the second near-infrared window

Biomaterials. 2023 Sep:300:122211. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122211. Epub 2023 Jun 23.

Authors

Jin Li¹, Binge Deng², Jian Ye³

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China; Shenzhen Research Institute of Xiamen University, Shenzhen, 518057, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China. Electronic address: yejian78@sjtu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37379685
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122211

Abstract

Second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) imaging is one of the foremost optical imaging techniques. However, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based research in this optical region remains in its infancy, mainly because of a lack of suitable NIR-II Raman reporters. Herein, we report the first example of a nickel dithiolene complex as a NIR-II resonance Raman reporter with intense long wavelength absorption (ε = 9.58 × 10⁴ m^-1 cm^-1 at 1007 nm), fluorescence-free features and ultrahigh affinity to noble metal surfaces with its eight sulfur atoms. Surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering nanoprobes constructed with such reporters enable high contrast and highly photostable lymph node imaging far superior to that possible with existing NIR-I and NIR-II SERS nanoprobes. The developed NIR-II nanoprobes allow deep optical penetration (8 mm) as well as in vivo SERS detection of deep-seated microtumors in mice.

Keywords: Bioimaging; Bis(dithiolene)nickel dyes; Deep penetration; SERS; Second near-infrared.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Coloring Agents*
Lymph Nodes
Mice
Nickel*
Optical Imaging
Sulfur

Substances

Nickel
Coloring Agents
Sulfur