Live-cell Raman imaging based on bioorthogonal Raman probes with distinct signals in the cellular Raman-silent region (1800–2800 cm−1) has attracted great interest in recent years. We report here a class of water-soluble and biocompatible polydiacetylenes with intrinsic ultrastrong alkyne Raman signals that locate in this region for organelle-targeting live-cell Raman imaging. Using a host-guest topochemical polymerization strategy, we have synthesized a water-soluble and functionalizable master polydiacetylene, namely poly(deca-4,6-diynedioic acid) (PDDA), which possesses significantly enhanced (up to ~104 fold) alkyne vibration compared to conventional alkyne Raman probes. In addition, PDDA can be used as a general platform for multi-functional ultrastrong Raman probes. We achieve high quality live-cell stimulated Raman scattering imaging on the basis of modified PDDA. The polydiacetylene-based Raman probes represent ultrastrong intrinsic Raman imaging agents in the Raman-silent region (without any Raman enhancer), and the flexible functionalization of this material holds great promise for its potential diverse applications.
A dual-functional photosensitizer that demonstrates exceptional photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy while simultaneously self-monitoring the therapeutic response in real time is reported here. Possessing an ultrahigh 1 O 2 quantum yield of 98.6% in water, the photosensitizer TPCI can efficiently induce cell death in a series of carcinoma cells (IC 50 values less than 300 × 10 −9 m) upon irradiation with an extremely low fluence (460 nm, 4 mW cm −2 for 10 min). In addition, TPCI can self-monitor cell death in real time. It is weakly fluorescent in living cells before irradiation and lights up the nuclei concomitantly with cell death during PDT treatment by binding with chromatin to activate its aggregation-induced emission, attributed to its strong binding affinity with DNA. In vivo studies using mouse models bearing H22 and B16F10 tumor cells validate the ultraefficient PDT efficacy of TPCI as well as the precise real-time noninvasive readout of the tumor response from the beginning of cancer treatment. The dual-functional TPCI serves as an excellent candidate for single-agent photodynamic theranostics, and this work represents a new paradigm for the development of molecules with multiple intrinsic functions for future self-reporting medical applications.in which an AIE-based fluorophore and a photosensitizer are conjugated by tumor-responsive linkers, e.g., caspase-responsive peptides, have been designed for real-time monitoring of PDT therapeutic effects, and have attracted great interest. [9] However, the in vivo application of such conjugates is typically limited in the complicated physiological environment. [10] In addition, the intricate design and sophisticated structures of such conjugates further increase the difficulty in developing them as drugs. Therefore, the development of small molecules that intrinsically combine the dual functions of exceptional noninvasive tumor ablation capability and real-time anticancer efficacy-reporting characteristics would represent an important, but highly challenging, breakthrough.In this study, we designed and synthesized a dual-functional molecule, namely TPCI (Figure 1A), which has exceptional PDT efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. TPCI is water soluble with an ultrahigh singlet oxygen quantum yield of ≈98.6%. In addition to its exceptional PDT efficacy, TPCI can self-report the therapeutic response in real time. It is weakly fluorescent in living cells before irradiation and instantly fluoresces in the nucleus during cell death upon irradiation, which can report the cell death in real time precisely and efficiently. We also validated the in vivo dual-function, single-molecular photodynamic theranostics in mice. TPCI can not only ablate cancer cells efficiently, but also report the anticancer effects in real time from the beginning of therapy.
The rapid development of digital society and artificial intelligence has triggered explosive demands for specialty plastics, especially conjugated polymers that are instrumental for flexible electronics and smart devices. The recycling and degradation of postconsumer conjugated polymers have become more important than ever to reduce the pressure to the environment. Here we report the discovery of an environmentally self-degradable conjugated polymer poly(deca-4,6-diynedioic acid), or PDDA. PDDA is stable in the dark or without oxygen when used as a functional material. However, when exposed to sunlight and air after the service life, PDDA disintegrates rapidly and fully decomposes through photooxidation in a week, yielding biocompatible, value-added succinic acid as a major degradation product. The complete degradation of PDDA into green upcycling products by sunlight in air, without leaving any microplastics, not only renders a pioneering paradigm of environmentally self-degradable conjugated polymers but also inspires developing effective strategies to completely degrade postconsumer conjugated polymers in a natural environment.
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