Organic small-molecule contrast agents have attracted considerable attention in the field of multispectral optoacoustic imaging, but their weak optoacoustic performance resulted from relatively low extinction coefficient and poor water solubility restrains their widespread applications. Herein, we address these limitations by constructing supramolecular assemblies based on cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]). Two dixanthene-based chromophores (DXP and DXBTZ) are synthesized as the model guest compounds, and then included in CB[8] to prepare host-guest complexes. The obtained DXP-CB[8] and DXBTZ-CB[8] display red-shifted and increased absorption as well as decreased fluorescence, thereby leading to a substantial enhancement in optoacoustic performance. Biological application potential of DXBTZ-CB[8] is investigated after co-assembly with chondroitin sulfate A (CSA). Benefiting from the excellent optoacoustic property of DXBTZ-CB[8] and the CD44-targeting feature of CSA, the formulated DXBTZ-CB[8]/CSA can effectively detect and diagnose subcutaneous tumors, orthotopic bladder tumors, lymphatic metastasis of tumors and ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury in mouse models with multispectral optoacoustic imaging.

有机小分子造影剂在多光谱光声成像领域引起了广泛关注，但其消光系数较低和水溶性差导致其光声性能较弱，限制了其广泛应用。在这里，我们通过构建基于葫芦[8]uril (CB[8])的超分子组件来解决这些限制。合成了两种基于二呫吨的发色团（DXP 和 DXBTZ）作为模型客体化合物，然后将其包含在 CB[8] 中以制备主客体复合物。获得的DXP-CB[8]和DXBTZ-CB[8]表现出红移和吸收增加以及荧光减少，从而导致光声性能的显着增强。与硫酸软骨素 A (CSA) 共组装后，研究了 DXBTZ-CB[8] 的生物学应用潜力。得益于DXBTZ-CB[8]优异的光声特性和CSA的CD44靶向特性，所配制的DXBTZ-CB[8]/CSA可以有效地检测和诊断皮下肿瘤、原位膀胱肿瘤、肿瘤淋巴转移和缺血多光谱光声成像小鼠模型中再灌注诱导的急性肾损伤。