The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Hkust Shenzhen Research Institute

Pengfei Zhang

Benzhong Tang

Ming Ju Chen

Wei Qin

Ji Qi

Tsz Kin Kwok

Jianguo Wang

Yee Yung Yu

Xiujuan Shi

Zheng Zhao

Xinggui Gu

Huifang Su

Jen-Shyang Ni

A compound comprises a donor and an acceptor, wherein at least one donor ('D') and at least one acceptor (“A”) may be arranged in an order of D-A; D-A-D; A-D-A; D-D-A-D-D; A-A-D-A-A; D-A-D-A-D; and A-D-A-D-A. The compound may be selected from the group consisting of: MTPE-TP, MTPE-TT, TPE-TP A-TT, PTZ-BT-TP A, NPB-TQ, TPE-TQ-A, MTPE-BTSe, DCDPP-2TP A, DCDPP-2TPA4M, DCDP-2TPA, DCDP-2TPA4M, TTS, ROpen-DTE-TPECM, and RClosed-DTE-TPECM. The compound may be used as a probe and may be functionalized with special targeted groups to image biological species. As non-limiting examples, the compound may be used in cellular cytoplasms or tissue imaging, blood vessel imaging, in vivo fluorescence imaging, brain vascular imaging, sentinel lymph node mapping, and tumor imaging, and the compound may be used as a photoacoustic agent.

Luminogens for biological applications

Small molecule compounds having aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics include donor-acceptor (D-A) structural NIR fluorophores based on 1,3-bis(dicyanomethylene)indan (BDCI), a strong and steric electron-deficient acceptor. A twisted quasi-double bond (TQDB) links each electron donor with the acceptor. The compounds can be used as NIR-II fluorescent dyes for in vivo imaging. The compounds can conjugate with bioactive molecules, such as peptides, sugars, aptamers and antibodies, to provide specific and active NIR-II fluorescent probes. The compounds can serve as active NIR-II fluorescent probes in many applications, such as, cancer cell-targeted imaging, accurate diagnosis of disease, and image-guided phototherapy.

NIR-II emissive luminogens

The present subject matter is directed to a luminogen exhibiting aggregation induced emission, wherein T1, T2, and T3 comprise one or more polyynes as a conjugated bridge. The present subject matter is also directed to an AIEgen comprising a hydrophilic pyridium group as a strong electron-withdrawing group; a piperazine group as an electron-donating group; and a &#x3b1;-Cyanostilbene; wherein the AIEgen exhibits aggregation induced emission. The present subject matter is directed to a method of synthesizing an AIEgen and is further directed to a method of labeling comprising incubating a subject having cells with a conjugate formed by conjugating an AIEgen with an antibody; and selectively labeling desired cells by turn-on imaging, wherein labeling occurs when the desired cells are selectively stained by fluorescent emission of the AIEgen upon degradation of the antibody after cellular internalization of the conjugate through endocytosis.

AIEgens for cancer cell imaging

A compound comprises a donor and an acceptor, wherein at least one donor ('D') and at least one acceptor ('A') may be arranged in an order of D-A; D-A-D; A-D-A; D-D-A-D-D; A-A-D-A-A; D-A-D-A-D; and A-D-A-D-A. The compound may be selected from the group consisting of: MTPE-TP, MTPE-TT, TPE-TPA-TT, PTZ-BT-TPA, NPB-TQ, TPE-TQ-A, MTPE-BTSe, DCDPP-2TPA, DCDPP-2TPA4M, DCDP-2TPA, DCDP-2TPA4M, TTS, ROpen-DTE-TPECM, and RClosed-DTE-TPECM. The compound may be used as a probe and may be functionalized with special targeted groups to image biological species. As non-limiting examples, the compound may be used in cellular cytoplasms or tissue imaging, blood vessel imaging, in vivo fluorescence imaging, brain vascular imaging, sentinel lymph node mapping, and tumor imaging, and the compound may be used as a photoacoustic agent.

Small molecule compounds having aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics. The compounds include organic, aromatic salts having anion-&#x3c0;interactions. In some embodiments, the anion-&#x3c0;interactions can include heavy-atom-anion-&#x3c0;interactions. The heavy atom anions can include bromine or iodide, for example. The compounds can be water-soluble. The compounds can be useful as probes for bioimaging, as room temperature luminogens for electroluminescent devices, and white organic light-emitting applications.

Growing community of inventors

Hong Kong, China

Pengfei Zhang