Aggregation-induced Emission Molecules Research Articles

Novel AIE-Active Polyarylethersulfone Polymers Incorporating Tetraphenylethene for Enhanced Fluorescence.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials have gained significant attention for their unique fluorescence enhancement in the aggregated state. However, combining rigid polymers with AIE molecules to enhance luminescent properties remains to be investigated. In this work, two novel AIE-active polyarylethersulfone (PAES) derivatives are synthesized by incorporating tetraphenylethene (TPE) into either the side chain or main chain of PAES, resulting in side-chain polyarylethersulfone-tetraphenylethene (PAES-TPE) and main-chain polyarylethersulfone-tetraphenylethene (m-PAES-TPE), respectively. These derivatives are designed to investigate the influence of the rigid polymer backbone on the AIE properties of TPE. The incorporation of TPE into PAES resulted in a notable redshift in fluorescence emission compared to pure TPE. Notably, m-PAES-TPE50%, a polymer with 50% molar content of TPE, exhibited a fluorescence quantum yield to 57.43%, more than twice that of TPE powder. Thermal analysis showed that both PAES-TPE and m-PAES-TPE have excellent thermal stability and temperature-dependent fluorescence. Additionally, these materials are processed into hydrophobic nanoparticles, and in vitro experiments demonstrated good fluorescence properties and biocompatibility for cancer cell bioimaging. This work highlights the potential of rigid AIE-active PAES derivatives for advanced bioimaging applications.

High-Strength Anisotropic Fluorescent Hydrogel Based on Solvent Exchange for Patterning.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active fluorescent hydrogel materials have found extensive applications in soft robotics, wearable electronics, information encryption, and biomedicine. Nevertheless, it continues to be difficult to create hydrogels that are both highly luminescent and possess strong mechanical capabilities. This study introduces a combined approach of prestretching and solvent exchange to create anisotropic luminous hydrogels made of poly(methacrylic acid-methacrylamide). This method restricts the intrachain rotation of AIE molecules and adjusts the orientation of the polymer network. The increased luminescence and mechanical qualities are determined to be caused by the clustering of AIE molecules, the creation of the associated hydrophobic phase and the asymmetrical polymer network. The fluorescent hydrogels exhibit exceptional mechanical characteristics, including a high fracture stress of 5.97 MPa, an outstanding elastic modulus of 93.97 MPa, and a fracture toughness of 7.21 MJ/m3. Furthermore, the AIE fluorescent hydrogels demonstrate outstanding water retention, antiswelling capabilities, and a writing function for solvent-regulated fluorescent information. This work presents a highly efficient technique for creating anisotropic hydrogels with changeable luminescence properties, which have the potential to be used in several applications, including information encryption, flexible sensors, and soft robots.

Metal Organic Framework Based on Photoactivated Aggregation-Induced Emission Molecule for Achieving Photoexcitation Regulation.

Ln-MOFs, composed of lanthanide ions and functional organic ligands, are porous materials with tunable structures and unique luminescent properties. However, the interplay between ligand AIE properties and the framework's "antenna effect" on MOF morphology is understudied. Here, Tb-D-Cam-TPTB was synthesized via solvothermal method using TPTB (persulfurated arene) as the primary ligand, D-Cam as the auxiliary ligand, and Tb3+ as the metal ion. Photoexcitation of TPTB, a typical AIE molecule, promotes conformational changes, enhancing molecular aggregation and luminescence. Comprehensive photophysical investigations of TPTB in solution and crystal states, Tb3+-TPTB coordination, and Tb-D-Cam-TPTB MOF were conducted using various spectroscopic and imaging techniques. This study explores the interaction between ligand AIE and the "antenna effect" on Ln-MOF luminescence and crystal structure. The results indicate that, when the ligand is a photoexcitation-induced AIE molecule, UV irradiation of the precursor solution prior to crystal growth can alter the crystal structure, luminescence intensity, and color, holding great promise for applications in anti-counterfeiting, sensing, and other related fields.

Advancing Aggregation‐Induced Emission‐Derived Biomaterials in Viral, Tuberculosis, and Fungal Infectious Diseases

ABSTRACTContagious diseases caused by different types of highly contagious pathogens, such as SARS‐CoV‐2, monkeypox virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and human immunodeficiency virus, could trigger global outbreaks and bring a huge public health burden. Advanced diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive strategies are urgently needed to deal with the epidemic of contagious diseases. Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) has emerged as one of the promising candidates that exhibit tunable photophysical properties, high biocompatibility, exceptional photostability, and a distinguishing aggregation‐enhanced fluorescence. As a result, they offer effective strategies for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of contagious diseases. This review systematically outlined the latest research progress of AIE‐based biomaterials and mechanisms in contagious diseases. The versatility of AIE molecules, as well as highly efficient fluorescence properties, has the potential to offer innovative strategies to combat these health challenges. Thanks to recent advances in materials science and a better understanding of aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens), AIEgens have great potential to provide better solutions for the treatment, detection, and prevention of contagious diseases. By reviewing state‐of‐the‐art methods for the killing, detection, and prevention of contagious agents and highlighting promising technological developments, this outlook aims to promote the development of new means for the prevention and control of emerging, re‐emerging, and major contagious diseases as well as further research and development activities in this critical area of research.

The Synthesis and Optical Property of a Ternary Hybrid Composed of Aggregation-Induced Luminescent Polyfluorene, Polydimethylsiloxane, and Silica.

Tetraphenylethene (TPE) is known as a molecule that exhibits aggregation-induced emission (AIE). In this study, pendant hydroxyl groups were introduced onto polyfluorene with a TPE moiety. Sol-gel reactions of polydiethoxysiloxane (PDEOS) were carried out in the presence of hydroxyl-functionalized AIE polyfluorene (TPE-PF-OH) and polydimethylsiloxane carrying pendant hydroxyl groups (PDMS-OH) to immobilize AIE polyfluorene into a PDMS/SiO2 hybrid in an isolated dispersion state. The luminescence intensity from this three-component hybrid increased with the increase in silica content. The luminescence intensity decreased with increasing external temperature. For the control experiment, sol-gel reactions of PDEOS were carried out in the presence of hydroxyl group-free polyfluorene (TPE-PF) and PDMS to obtain ternary composites. We found that the luminescence from this composite was not significantly affected by the silica content or external temperature. We synthesized temperature-responsive AIE materials without changing the concentration or aggregation state of the AIE molecules.

Excited State Dynamics of Geometrical Evolution of α-Substituted Dibenzoylmethanatoboron Difluoride Complex with Aggregation-Induced Emission Property.

Organic molecules with an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property have been attracting much attention from the viewpoint of application to solid state emissive materials. For the AIE mechanism, quantum mechanical studies proposed the restriction of the intramolecular motion (RIM) model with the contribution of the conical intersection (CI) and deduced the importance of the restricted access to a conical intersection (RACI) in the potential energy surface (PES). Although these theoretical studies have contributed to the elucidation of AIE phenomena, direct detection of the reaction dynamics is indispensable to clarify the actual PES and the deactivation mechanism. Along this line, we investigated excited state dynamics of the AIE molecule with dibenzoylmethanatoboron difluoride complexes using time-resolved absorption spectroscopies in both visible and infrared (IR) regions. While the reference system of 1,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)methanatoboron difluoride (2aBF2) showed strong emission in solution, the methyl-substituted derivative at the α-position of the dioxaborine ring (2amBF2) led to the very weak fluorescence in solution but strong emission in the solid state. Time-resolved visible absorption measurements revealed a peak shift and broadening of the stimulated emission in the solution of 2amBF2, owing to the rapid change of the molecular geometry. With the temporal evolution of time-resolved IR absorption signals and density functional theory (DFT) calculation of these systems, it was deduced that 2amBF2 has two stable geometries, namely, planar and bending, in the S1 state and the bending geometry in the S1 state led to rapid conversion to the S0 state. These results support the RACI model in the aggregated states, leading to the AIE properties.

Constructing amphiphilic fluorescent probes with dual-positive charge sites for microplastics detection through immobilization-induced emission

In contrast to traditional instrument-dependent methods, fluorescent probes provide a cost-effective, efficient, and convenient approach for detecting microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems. However, the conventional dye-based sensors reported exhibit the limitations such as insolubility in water, low contrast, dependence on heating treatment, and limited adaptability. Encouragingly, the water-soluble aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecules are desirable turn-on fluorescent probes, but their application for detecting MPs in water is rarely explored. In this work, we have developed two novel tetraphenylethene (TPE) derivatives with excellent water solubility by introducing dual-positive charge sites into TPE backbones (denoted as TPE-Phenyl-Py and TPE-Vinyl-Py), in which the TPE moieties are connected with pyridinium and quaternary ammonium-related cations through the phenyl group and vinyl group respectively. Remarkably, both of TPE derivatives enable in-situ detection of various MPs within 10 s in water due to the fluorescence is enhanced by the immobilization of TPE probes on MPs. Moreover, unlike traditional dyes that result in unchanged colors when staining different types of MPs, the colorful particles can be distinguished from each other based on their unique emission colors resulting from the immobilization-induced emission of TPE derivatives and the intrinsic fluorescence of MPs. Excitingly, as a result of its better hydrophilicity and weak background fluorescence, TPE-Vinyl-Py demonstrates excellent capability for detecting MPs leached from teabags steeped in 95℃ water. This work provides an effective strategy for exploring more turn-on fluorescent probes for MPs detection.

Tetraphenylethylene-Derived Tetracarboxylate Featuring AIE Properties for Dual Ion Sensing and Mechanochromic Self-Erasable Writing.

The integration of multiple functions within a single fluorescent molecule provides a promising platform for developing versatile, efficient, and cost-effective materials with enhanced performance across diverse applications. In this study, we introduce TPEC, an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecule derived from tetraphenylethylene-based tetracarboxylate, which demonstrates multifunctional capabilities, including metal ion sensing and self-erasable writing. TPEC exhibits amphiphilicity in water, self-assembling into single-layer nanosheets with robust blue fluorescence. Notably, the aqueous solution of TPEC displays a fluorescence colorimetric response to Al3+ ions and fluorescence quenching in the presence of Fe3+ ions. Additionally, TPEC powders undergo fluorescence colorimetric changes under mechanical stimulation, enabling self-erasable writing on prepared paper. This study presents a straightforward strategy for the development of multifunctional luminescent materials based on the self-assembly of a single-component fluorophore.

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer enhanced aggregation signal-on fluorescence detection of alkaline phosphatase.

The instability of the signal intensity of fluorescent biosensors and the false signals have been significant factors affecting the performance of biosensors. Herein, a novel signaling system is devised through the application of reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with monomers containing the tetraphenylethylene (TPE) groups. TPE exhibits an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) phenomenon in certain solvents, mainly due to the blockage of the rotation of its four benzene rings, which also exist in the aggregated state. With this property, a series of molecules are modified based on click chemistry for RAFT polymerization using Fe3O4 magnetic beads as the carriers, and stable aggregated luminescent TPE polymers are formed on the surface of magnetic beads to realize the transformation of fluorescence signal from "0" to "1". In addition, the fluorescence signal demonstrates a positive correlation with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, which can be quantified by measuring the fluorescence intensity. The biosensor exhibits high sensitivity and good linearity in the range of 0.1-5 U/L, with a LOD of 0.079 U/L. Furthermore, the designed strategy demonstrated satisfactory performance in the quantitative determination of ALP activity in serum samples, indicating that the signaling system developed by combining RAFT polymerization and AIE molecules has an important application in the field of fluorescent biosensors.

Engineering circularly polarized luminescence through symmetry manipulation in achiral tetraphenylpyrazine structures

Symmetry breaking, a critical phenomenon in both natural and artificial systems, is pivotal in constructing chiral structures from achiral building units. This study focuses on the achiral molecule 8,8',8'',8'''-((pyrazine-2,3,5,6-tetrayltetrakis(benzene-4,1-iyl))tetrakis (oxy))tetrakis (octan-1-ol) (TPP-C8OH), an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecule, to explore its symmetry breaking behavior in supramolecular assembly. By analyzing TPP-C8OH in various solvents‒both non-chiral and chiral‒we find that chiral solvents significantly enhance the molecule's symmetry breaking and chiroptical properties. Specially, alcohol solvents, particularly dodecyl alcohol, facilitate the formation of helical structures with both left-handed (M) and right-handed (P) helices within single twisted nanoribbons. This observation contrasts with previously reported symmetry breaking phenomena in assembly systems. Chiral solvents induce assemblies with distinct helical orientations, resulting in notable circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) and circular dichroism (CD) signals. This study elucidates the impact of solvent choice on symmetry breaking and chiral assembly, offering insights into the design of advanced chiral materials with tailored self-assembly processes.

Ultrafast dynamics and electroluminescence performance of a novel tetraphenylethylene-based aggregation induced emission luminogen

Efficient emission and confined molecular conjugation in aggregated/solid form, are two beneficial characteristics of blue organic light-emitting materials (OLEMs). Aggregation-induced emission molecules (AIEgens) have evolved as auspicious OLEMs that possess these properties. Herein, we discover an innovative sky-blue tetraphenylethene-based AIEgen, 4′,4‴-(1-phenyl-2-(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)phenyl)-1H-imidazole-4,5-diyl)bis(N,N-diphenyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-amine) (2TPA-ITPE), with high thermal stability. By employing this AIEgen as a non-doped emitter, the constructed organic light-emitting diode demonstrates a maximum external quantum efficiency of 3.35 % with a power efficiency of 4.1 lm/W and high luminescence of 15896.92 cd/m2 2TPA-ITPE exhibits a weak donor-acceptor character. Moreover, to probe the photo-physical nature of this AIEgen, its excited-state dynamics are examined through ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS). The TAS results of this OLEM unveil the generation of a resonant structure species owing to the elongation of C=C double bond. The excited state dynamics reveal that 2TPA-ITPE undergoes three processes after excitation (internal conversion, C=C elongation and vibrational cooling). These findings offer innovative insights into the ultrafast mechanisms underlying excited TPE-based OLEMs.

Discrete Macrocyclic Polymer Hosts-Induced Cascade Luminescence Enhancement and Application in Bioimaging.

The integration of polymers, supramolecular macrocycles and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecules provides numerous possibilities for constructing various functional supramolecular systems. Herein, we constructed supramolecular assembled systems based on discrete macrocyclic polymer hosts via the cooperation of hydra-headed macrocycles containing two or three pillar[5]arene units (defined as P2, P3), the block polymer F127 and AIE molecules (alkyl-cyano modified tetraphenylethene, alkyl-triazole-cyano modified 9,10-distyrylanthracene, defined as TPE-(CN)4 and DSA-(TACN)2). Compared with the binary assembly between hydra-headed hosts or F127 and AIE molecules, cascaded supramolecular assembly-induced emission enhancement (SAIEE) in aqueous solution was achieved in discrete macrocyclic polymer-based supramolecular assembled systems. Considering the cascaded SAIEE performance, we have successfully applied discrete macrocyclic polymer-based supramolecular assembled systems to bioimaging and constructed an artificial light-harvesting system (LHs) to explore more potential applications. The supramolecular assembly form of discrete macrocyclic polymers hosts and AIE molecules proposed in this work provides new inspiration for the construction and application of high-performance supramolecular luminescent systems.

Multifunctional N-fused fluorescent probes for detection of iron ions and nitro explosives

In this work, two novel probes 4a and 4b were synthesized through Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction, whose structures were further confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and X-ray single crystal diffraction. The optical properties of the obtained molecules were investigated accordingly. Owing to different bridging fluorophores, there are certain differences in optical performance and detection ability between the two synthesized compounds. Especially, due to the subtle difference in orbitals energy and electron distribution displayed by the DFT calculations, 4a possesses the characteristics of dual-state emission (DSE) molecule, while 4b is an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecule. Interestingly, these two molecules can be developed into multifunctional detection probes, successfully applied for the fluorescence recognition of iron ions and common nitroaromatic compounds (NACs). At the same time, the probe molecules can also be applied to the detection of NACs in aqueous environment. What’s more, they can also be loaded on test strips and thin-films for fluorescence identification of NACs, thus being expected to be developed into portable detection tools for NACs.

Silver amplified immunosensor via effective fluorogenic Ag+-imidazole aggregation for detection of AFB1

BackgroundCereals are susceptible to aflatoxin contamination during storage and transportation, which is highly carcinogenic and teratogenic, and seriously threaten human health. The accurate and rapid detection of total aflatoxin (including aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2) is of great importance for food safety. Conventional fluorescence immunoassays have the advantage of being sensitive and fast; however, these methods can be affected by strong background and matrix interference. Therefore, the development of ultrasensitive, cost-effective, and interference rejection sensors for detecting aflatoxins in moldy grains is vital for food safety and human health. ResultsIn this paper, a broad-spectrum aflatoxin monoclonal antibody was prepared by using hybridoma cell fusion technology. An aggregation-induced emission (AIE) based immunosensor via silver amplification coupled with a fluorogenic Ag+ probe was established for AFB1 analysis. Silver nanoparticles are decomposed into numerous Ag+ by H2O2, and then Ag+ further specifically binds with imidazole-modified AIE molecules, improving the sensitivity and anti-interference ability of the method. The IC50 and IC15 of AIE-based immunosensor for AFB1 were 0.019 and 0.0014 μg/L, respectively, 2.3-fold and 5.8-fold higher than those of icELISA. The AIE-based immunosensor was also used to analyze AFB1 from actual cereal samples, with spiked recoveries ranging from 72.91 to 115.92 %. In addition, the method was used to detect total aflatoxins in moldy grains. SignificanceBased on the advantages of broad-spectrum aflatoxin monoclonal antibody, high-efficiency metal signal amplification, and functional AIE molecule, a sensitive, accurate, cost-effective, and time-saving method was developed for the analysis of total aflatoxins in cereals. Moreover, the proposed signal amplification strategy shows great potential for analyzing other trace-level small molecular pollutants.

Aggregation-Induced Emission-Active Organic Nanoagent with High Photothermal Conversion Efficiency for Near-Infrared Imaging-Guided Tumor Photothermal Therapy.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) provides a great prospect for noninvasive cancer therapy. However, it is still highly challenging to construct photothermal agents (PTAs) with the desired performances for imaging-guided PTT applications. Herein, a D-A-D-type naphthalene diamine (NDI)-based photothermal nano-PTAs NDS-BPN NP with near-infrared region (NIR) emission at 822 nm, aggregation-induced emission (AIE), high photothermal conversion efficiency (55.05%), and excellent photothermal stability is successfully designed and prepared through a simple two-step engineering method by using a new AIE molecule NDS-BPN and DSPE-PEG2000 as precursors. The prepared PTT nanoagents NDS-BPN NPs have been further applied for efficient photothermal ablation of cancer cells in vitro and also achieved the NIR fluorescent image-guided PTT tumor therapy in vivo with satisfactory results. We believe that this work provides an attractive NIR AIE NDI-based nano-PTA for the phototherapy of tumors as well as develops the construction strategy of NDI molecular-based photothermal nanoagents with desired performances for imaging-guided PTT.

Aggregation-Induced Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Biosensor for Ultrasensitive Detection of Carcinoembryonic Antigen Based on Donor-Acceptor Organic Nanoparticles.

Aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence (AIECL) combines the merits of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL), which has become a research hot spot in recent years. Therefore, we synthesized a novel AIE compound (Z)-3-(4-(2-butyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-6-yl)phenyl)-2-(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)phenyl)acrylonitrile (TPENI) with a donor-acceptor (D-A) structure, that is, a simple peripheral modification of 4-(2-butyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-6-yl) benzaldehyde (NI-CHO) with AIE-active tetraphenylethylene (TPE) to achieve the transition of NI-CHO from aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) to an AIE molecule. When TPENI was in the aggregated state, the luminescence intensity was significantly enhanced due to the TPE structural unit restricting the free rotation of the intramolecular benzene ring, as well as the π-π stacking interactions of the molecules, which was conducive to the preparation of TPENI NPs as ECL materials. Satisfactorily, we found that the ECL intensity of TPENI NPs was increased by about 4.8-fold compared with that of the molecules dispersed in organic solution, and the stability reached about 1000 s. Based on the excellent ECL properties of TPENI NPs, an "on-off-on" ECL biosensor with a wider detection range (1 fg/mL to 100 ng/mL) and a lower detection limit of 0.20 fg/mL (S/N = 3) was proposed for sensitive analysis of a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Overall, this work provided a new approach to the realization of AIECL and laid the foundation for the application of naphthalimide derivatives in ECL.

NIR‐II AIEgens nanosystem for fluorescence and chemiluminescence synergistic imaging‐guided precise resection in osteosarcoma surgery

AbstractOsteosarcoma (OS) is characterized by an unfavorable prognosis and high mortality rates, with the local recurrence attributed to residual lesions post‐surgery being a major reason for treatment failure. Precise and tumor‐specific resection guidance to minimize recurrence remains a significant challenge. In the present study, a nanosystem based on aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) molecules with emission in the second near‐infrared window is proposed for the synergistic fluorescence (FL) and chemiluminescence (CL) imaging‐guided surgical resection for the elimination of tumor foci. The designed AIE molecule, BBTD14, exhibits stable FL with a high quantum yield of up to 3.95%, which effectively matches the energy levels of CL high‐energy states, generating the longest emission wavelength of CL reported to date. Targeted tumor imaging‐guided surgery (IGS) is facilitated by FL and CL nanoprobes (FLNP and CLNP) constructed based on BBTD14. During OS surgery, the FLNP, with the stability of FL and a high targeting capability, was first intravenously used to guide the surgical removal of the main tumor. Subsequently, CLNP was locally incubated to facilitate rapid and accurate evaluation of residual tumors at the operative border. High signal‐to‐noise ratio CL imaging was achieved after spraying with hydrogen peroxide, thereby overcoming the limitations of intraoperative frozen sections. The proposed technique also significantly reduced the recurrence rates in OS mouse models and exhibited high marker specificity in ex vivo OS patient pathology samples, confirming its potential in clinical applications and providing a unique perspective for developing IGS.

Application of novel AIE materials in fluorescence probes

Fluorescence bioimaging is considered an indispensable technique in biological research due to its high sensitivity, excellent spatial and temporal resolution, non-invasiveness, rapid and real-time responsiveness, as well as its ease of accessibility. Among these, fluorescence probes play a pivotal role in fluorescence imaging technology thanks to their strong specificity, high sensitivity, rapid response, and straightforward implementation. Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) molecules exhibit a unique phenomenon: they emit weak or no fluorescence when dissolved in a solution but become highly luminescent under aggregated/clustering conditions. Leveraging this, fluorescent probes with AIE characteristics often demonstrate fluorescence activation under conditions of spontaneous aggregation or binding with analytes, showcasing high sensitivity and exceptional signal-to-noise ratios. Consequently, fluorescence probes based on the distinctive optical properties of AIE hold immense potential for applications in fluorescence bioimaging. This paper primarily investigates the synthesis properties and applications in biosensing of a series of novel organic fluorescence probes with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics. By synthesizing a range of compounds with AIE properties and experimentally determining their photophysical properties and molecular structures, the study explores the potential applications of these compounds in DNA recognition, protein detection, small molecule recognition, cellular pH detection, and bioimaging.

Micronano Lasers Based on Aggregation-Induced Emission Molecules: Diverse Resonant Cavities Investigation.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecules have great potential to enhance the performance of micronano lasers due to their excellent aggregated luminescence properties, so it is valuable to expand their applications in micronano lasers. In this work, a typical AIE active fluorescent dye motif 9,10-bis(2,2-diphenylvinyl) anthracene (BDPVA) was selected as the gain medium. First, drop-casting was used to fabricate BDPVA single-crystal nanowires, which can be used as Fabry-Perot (FP)-type resonators with a lasing threshold of 49.4 μJ/cm2. Furthermore, we innovatively doped BDPVA molecules as gain mediums into external polymer Whispering-Gallery-Mode (WGM)-type resonators via the emulsion self-assembly method. Fabricated BDPVA-doped polystyrene (PS) microspheres exhibit a much lower lasing threshold of 9.04 μJ/cm2. These results prove that the BDPVA molecules, in addition to realizing the reported AIE single-crystal lasers, can also be used as a guest-doped gain medium in the resonant cavity for obtaining better fluorescence gain. In addition, multimode tunability of two types of lasers has been successfully achieved by tuning the structure of the resonant cavity. This work further expands the application potential of AIE materials and will provide a useful reference for the rational design and fabrication of photonic micronano laser components using AIE materials.

Biomimetic Nanosystem Loading Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens and SO2 Prodrug for Inhibiting Insufficient Photothermal Therapy-Induced Breast Cancer Recurrence and Metastasis.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) holds considerable clinical promise. However, insufficient PTT-induced tumor recurrence and metastasis is an urgent practical problem that needs to be solved. Herein, a biomimetic mesoporous organosilicon nano-system called PSAB is designed to precisely deplete cancer stem cells (CSCs) and prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis after PTT. The PSAB system is made up of Aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active photothermal agent, 2TT-oC26B, and SO2 prodrug, benzothiazole sulfinate (BTS), within mesoporous organosilicon nanoparticles (MON) enclosed by an exterior platelet membrane. PSAB effectively targets CSCs both in vitro and in vivo by P-selectin/CD44 interaction. The degradation of MON and subsequent release of BTS and AIE molecules are facilitated by intracellular glutathione (GSH). Subsequently, the acidic tumor environment triggers the SO2 gas therapy from BTS. This process leads to the depletion of GSH and CSCs elimination. After combining PSAB with photothermal therapy, there is no significant tumor recurrence or metastasis. These results indicate that SO2 gas therapy and AIE-mediated PTT act synergistically to offer a unique approach for preventing tumor recurrence and metastasis after PTT, thus holding significant promise for clinical applications in cancer PTT.