Ultrasound lighting up AIEgens for potential surgical navigation

J Mater Chem B. 2021 Apr 21;9(15):3317-3325. doi: 10.1039/d0tb02832k. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Abstract

Multifunctional contrast-enhanced agents suitable for application in surgical navigation by taking advantage of the merits of their diverse imaging modalities at different surgical stages are highly sought-after. Herein, an amphipathic polymer composed of aggregation-induced emission fluorogens (AIEgens) and Gd3+ chelates was successfully synthesized and assembled into ultrasound responsive microbubbles (AIE-Gd MBs) to realize potential tri-modal contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and AIEgen-based fluorescence imaging (FI) during the perioperative period. Through ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) and cavitation effect, the as-prepared AIE-Gd MBs went through a MBs-to-nanoparticles (NPs) conversion, which not only resulted in targeted accumulation in tumor tissues but also led to stronger fluorescence being exhibited due to the more aggregated AIE-Gd molecules in the NPs. As a proof-of-concept, our work proposes a strategy of US-lit-up AIEgens in tumors which could offer a simple and powerful tool for surgical navigation in the future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Contrast Media / chemical synthesis
  • Contrast Media / chemistry*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemical synthesis
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Optical Imaging*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Surgery, Computer-Assisted*
  • Ultrasonography*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Polymers