Oxygenation plays a critical role in health and medicine. Deficits or excesses in cells, tissues, and organisms are associated with disease, damage, poor healing, and even death. Oxygen sensing nanoparticles composed of difluoroboron �-diketonate (BF2bdk) dyes and biocompatible poly(lactic acid) (PLA) have been developed. These materials exhibit intense fluorescence and room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) that is quenched by oxygen. This dual emission enables ratiometric oxygen sensing in which the same dye serves as both the reference and sensor. Boron nanoparticles (BNPs) can provide insight into the tumor microenvironment and response to drugs and therapies. While dye-PLA analogues are suitable for direct tissue administration and tumor imaging, PEGylated BNPs are important for IV injection and vascular oxygen imaging, given their stealth properties, longer circulation and potential for passive tumor accumulation by the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. Materials for active targeting of vascular and tumor receptors are under investigation. For example, BNPs with folate are generated to target the folate receptor, which is overexpressed on many tumors. Many factors such as polymer composition, particle size, shape, core and surface properties, and targeting groups can affect nanoparticle distribution, uptake and clearance, though the precise relationships between these parameters are not always well understood. Progress in synthesis, characterization and bioimaging of luminescent boron nanoparticles will be presented.

Boron nanoparticles for oxygen sensing: Material design, optical properties, and bioimaging

248th National Meeting (2014)

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