Engineering phosphorescence and pH-responsive fluorescence of luminophores
Researchers develop a new design paradigm for integrating phosphorescence with pH responsiveness in biodegradable materials.
Researchers from Westlake University have introduced a novel design paradigm for engineering organic ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) that integrates pH responsiveness. This advancement, published in Nature Communications, addresses the challenge of coupling RTP with biochemical responsiveness at both molecular and material levels. The team developed an aromatic ketone linked to a pH-responsive α-methyleneketone within a carbonyl-rich framework, resulting in a family of luminophores that combine pH responsiveness with long-lived triplet emission.
Design Paradigm
The new design, termed ArKMK, yields homophthalic anhydride (HA) and homophthalimides as effective luminophores. To maintain long-lived emission within elastomeric matrices, the researchers implemented a two-pots-in-one (TPiO) strategy. This method allows for the separate preformation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments, which are then co-reacted to create phase-separated microenvironments in biodegradable polyesters. The resulting materials successfully reconcile mechanical compliance with triplet-state stabilization while covalently integrating ArKMK luminophores through esterification chemistry.
Applications
These biodegradable polyesters facilitate time-gated subcutaneous imaging, gastrointestinal tracking, and wound-status reporting by leveraging the combined properties of RTP and pH-indicating fluorescence. This work establishes a comprehensive framework for integrating pH responsiveness with long-lived triplet emission in soft, biodegradable materials, paving the way for innovative applications in biomedical fields.
