Titelbild: Nahinfrarot Fluoreszenz‐Lebensdauer Mikroskopie von Biomolekülen mit Kohlenstoffnanoröhren (Angew. Chem. 24/2023)

Abstract

Fluorescence lifetime imaging is a powerful technique. In their Research Article (e202300682), Sebastian Kruss et al. used single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as fluorescent probes/sensors for biomolecules in the near infrared (NIR) tissue transparency window. The SWCNTs were functionalized with DNA to render them selective for the important neurotransmitter dopamine. Time correlated single photon counting in a confocal microscope was used to read out fluorescence lifetime, which changed with dopamine concentration. This approach enabled the measurement of dopamine around cells. Thus, the fluorescence lifetime of SWCNTs becomes a new sensing strategy for bio(molecules).