Two-photon Brightness of NIR-emitting, Atomically Precise DNA-stabilized Silver Nanoclusters

Overview

Journal Chem Sci

Publisher Royal Society of Chemistry

Specialty Chemistry

Date 2024 Dec 25

PMID 39720144

Authors

Agata Hajda

Rweetuparna Guha

Stacy Marla Copp

Joanna Olesiak-Banska

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Near-infrared (NIR) emitters with high two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-sections are of interest to enable imaging in the tissue transparency windows. This study explores the potential of DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (Ag -DNAs) as water-soluble two-photon absorbers. We investigate 2PA of four different atomically precise Ag -DNA species with far-red to NIR emission and varying nanocluster and ligand compositions. 2PA cross-sections, , were determined by two-photon excited luminescence (2PEL) technique for a wide wavelength range from 810 to 1400 nm. The Ag -DNAs exhibited reversed strength of corresponding transitions in the two-photon regime, as compared to one-photon, which further demonstrates the complex photophysics of these emitters. Maximal 2PA cross-section value (∼582 GM) was observed for (DNA)[Ag], which is stabilized by 3 DNA oligomers. (DNA)[AgCl] presented distinct 2PA behavior from the Ag -DNAs without chlorido ligands, with a high 2PA of 176 GM at 1050 nm. Our findings support the potential of Ag -DNAs as NIR-to-NIR two-photon probes that are both excited and emit in the NIR. Their high and fluorescence quantum yield values result in superior two-photon brightness on the order of ∼10 GM, significantly higher than water-soluble organic fluorophores.

Citing Articles

Revisiting Anti-Stokes Emission Features of DNA-Stabilized Silver Nanoclusters.

Liisberg M, Romolini G, Ruck V, Cerretani C, Vosch T ACS Omega. 2025; 10(8):8652-8657.

PMID: 40060843 PMC: 11886910. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c11384.

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