A self-assembling lanthanide molecular nanoparticle for optical imagingElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. CCDC 1008697. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c4dt02646b

• Main Authors: Brown, Katherine A, Yang, Xiaoping, Schipper, Desmond, Hall, Justin W, DePue, Lauren J, Gnanam, Annie J, Arambula, Jonathan F, Jones, Jessica N, Swaminathan, Jagannath, Dieye, Yakhya, Vadivelu, Jamuna, Chandler, Don J, Marcotte, Edward M, Sessler, Jonathan L, Ehrlich, Lauren I. R, Jones, Richard A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1477-9226; 1477-9234
• DOI: 10.1039/c4dt02646b

Chromophores that incorporate f-block elements have considerable potential for use in bioimaging applications because of their advantageous photophysical properties compared to organic dye, which are currently widely used. We are developing new classes of lanthanide-based self-assembling molecular nanoparticles as reporters for imaging and as multi-functional nanoprobes or nanosensors for use with biological samples. One class of these materials, which we call lanthanide "nano-drums", are homogeneous 4d-4f clusters approximately 25 to 30 Å in diameter. These are capable of emitting from the visible to near-infrared wavelengths. Here, we present the synthesis, crystal structure, photophysical properties and comparative cytotoxicity data for a 32 metal Eu-Cd nano-drum [Eu 8 Cd 24 L 12 (OAc) 48 ] ( 1 ). We also explored the imaging capabilities of this nano-drum using epifluorescence, TIRF, and two-photon microscopy platforms. The structure and photophysical properties of the nano-drum [Eu 8 Cd 24 L 12 (OAc) 48 ] are described as well as imaging capabilities using commercial microscopy platforms.