Two Photon excitation microscopy of individual Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Two-photon fluorescence imaging achieves deep-tissue penetration through long excitation wavelengths and nonlinear excitation confinement. The 1700 nm transparency window is particularly attractive, as it optimally balances tissue scattering and absorption. However, efficient fluorophores for two-photon excitation in this window remain limited. Moreover the weak near-infrared emission of individual emitters, and the low photon detection efficiency, has so far precluded single-particle imaging. Here, we characterize the two-photon excitation properties of chirality-sorted pristine and quantum color center-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes under 1700 nm excitation. By measuring and comparing their two-photon action cross-sections, we identify quantum color center-functionalized (6,5) nanotubes emitting at 1140 nm, as the most promising emitter, with an exceptionally large cross-section of (57 \pm 2).103 GM. Leveraging these favorable photophysical properties, we image individual nanotubes under 1700 nm excitation, to our knowledge the first demonstration of single-particle imaging at this wavelength. These results establish quantum color center-functionalized (6,5) nanotube as a strong candidate for long-wavelength two-photon imaging and lay the groundwork for deep-tissue single-particle imaging.