The application of small organic π-conjugated discotic derivatives in photoacoustic imaging and photothermal conversion

Abstract

Near-infrared absorbing dyes are catching people’s attention as they are committed to find materials with greater photoacoustic (PA) and photothermal (PT) effect. In this study, a new series of organic π-conjugated discotic derivatives synthesized via [2 + 2] click chemistry were introduced. The PA intensity and PT conversion effect of the derivatives were monitored. It was found that the π-conjugated discotic derivatives had a proper absorption peak and PA intensity by introducing the click regents. Furthermore, the PA intensity remained relatively high, while B12 molecules were embedded in hydrophobic phospholipid bilayer of liposomes (B12⊂L). The application in biological therapy for tumors become possible as the toxicity of B12⊂L was low. What’s more, when B12 molecules embedded in poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly (2-nitrobenzyl methacrylate) (PNIPAM-b-PNBM) thermosensitive micelles were irradiated by laser, the molecules could take the place of direct temperature stimulus. This work affords us a way to solve the problem in which direct temperature stimulus is inapplicable.