BENIGN

Biocompatible and Efficient Nanocrystals for Shortwave Infrared Imaging

Decorative image, HI BENIGN

In the shortwave infrared (SWIR) range (1000–2000nm) scattering is suppressed and autofluorescence is almost absent compared to visible and near-infrared spectral range. This enables imaging with enhanced penetration depth and increased sensitivity. In particular, the optical region between 1500-2000nm is most promising from the optical point of view. But so far exploration of these wavelength windows has been limited by lack of fluorescent contrast agents emitting in and imaging setups being able to detect in this region.

To unlock the potential of these windows bright and targeted imaging agents are required and sensitivity of SWIR imaging setups needs to be extended further red. The BENIGN project will target this challenge by developing a new optical imaging method using efficient lanthanide-based heterogeneous core-shell structures with emission between 1500-2000nm. BENIGN aims to enable non-invasive molecular imaging with cellular resolution in vivo at depths of several millimeters.

Publications

Arteaga Cardona, F., Jain, N., Popescu, R., Busko, D., Madirov, E., Arús, B. A., Gerthsen, D., De Backer, A., Bals, S., Bruns, O. T., Chmyrov, A., Van Aert, S., Richards, B. S., & Hudry, D. (2023). Preventing cation intermixing enables 50% quantum yield in sub-15 nm short-wave infrared-emitting rare-earth based core-shell nanocrystals. Nature Communications, 14(1), 4462. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40031-4
Lingg, J. G. P., Bischof, T. S., Arús, B. A., Cosco, E. D., Sletten, E. M., Rowlands, C. J., Bruns, O. T., & Chmyrov, A. (2023). Shortwave-Infrared Line-Scan Confocal Microscope for Deep Tissue Imaging in Intact Organs. Laser & Photonics Reviews, 17(11), 2300292. https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.202300292

Project partners

KIT, DKFZ, NCT

  • Prof. Dr. Oliver Bruns
  • Dr. Damien Hudry

Duration

24 months

Primary Contact

Prof. Dr. Oliver Bruns

oliver.bruns@nct-dresden.de

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