Boosting Fluorescence-Photoacoustic-Raman Properties in One Fluorophore for Precise Cancer Surgery

Highlights

• Fluorescence, photoacoustic, and Raman properties can be boosted in one molecule

• Preoperative fluorescence/PA imaging deciphers comprehensive tumor information

• Intraoperative fluorescence/Raman imaging helps to delineate tiny residual tumors

• The one-for-all organic agent provides a unique platform for precise cancer surgery

Summary

Multi-modality organic imaging agents hold great potential for comprehensive disease diagnosis and treatment by taking advantage of each mode, yet the development is less than satisfied. Here, we develop the one-for-all agent with boosted fluorescence, photoacoustic (PA), and Raman properties by tuning the molecular structure and intramolecular motion for triple-modality imaging-guided cancer surgery. Compared with the other analogs, compound OTPA-TQ3 can generate the highest fluorescence, PA, and Raman (2,215 cm⁻¹) signals, which presents the first organic molecule integrating with these optical imaging modalities. In vivo experiments with the OTPA-TQ3-based nanoagent help to decipher tumor information at different surgical stages and improve cancer surgery outcomes. The pre-operative fluorescence and PA imaging are capable of providing comprehensive tumor information, while the intraoperative fluorescence and Raman imaging delineate tumor margins in a sensitive high-contrast manner. This one-for-all organic molecular agent allows for accurate cancer imaging and resection, rendering great promise for integrated multi-modality imaging applications.