Caged compounds are a class of photosensitive reagents used to stimulate cells with spatial control down to a sub-cellular level, and millisecond temporal control. They comprise of biologically important molecule which is modified with a photolabile protecting group. In the absence of light, caged compounds are physiologically silent but irradiation with light induces the release of biologically active species. Illumination under two-photon conditions is particularly advantageous as it enables restriction of the photolysis volume to ~1 fL and it provides deeper penetration into scattering samples. This thesis reports the development of new protecting groups for two-photon uncaging in neuroscience. Mechanistically, the deprotection in these novel groups is designed to operate via an intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) between the absorbing unit (electron-donor) and the release module (electron-acceptor). The modular design of these cages ensures separation of absorption and release steps, and allows each process to be tuned and optimized independently. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the two-photon absorption phenomenon and a historic overview of the uncaging technique. It also discusses recent advances in the development of two-photon sensitive probes used in neuroscience. Chapter 2 describes the exploration of molecular designs for novel protecting groups. A two-photon absorbing dye (electron-donor; fluorene dye) and three different release units (electron-acceptors; nitrobenzyl, pyridinium and phenacyl) were identified as suitable building blocks for the current project. Efficiency of the intramolecular electron transfer between chosen units was evaluated using model dyads which constitute covalently linked electron-donor and acceptor species. Chapter 3 is devoted to the synthesis and photophysical evaluation of nitrobenzyl-based protecting group. Chapter 4 describes the preparation of pyridinium-derived protecting group and demonstrates PeT-mediated release of tryptophan and GABA under one- and two-photon excitation. Hydrolytic instability of pyridinium esters is highlighted. Chapter 5 reports the synthesis, hydrolytic stability and one-photon uncaging efficiency of phenacyl-based derivatives. Chapter 6 discusses properties of developed caged compounds and compares them with other compounds reported in literature. It contains overall conclusions and outlook for the current project. Chapter 7 details the experimental procedures and the characterization of compounds synthesized during this work.

L’avènement des lasers impulsionnels nanosecondes à femtosecondes a permis un développement rapide de techniques permettant de sonder et/ou de transformer les matériaux à l’échelle locale par des processus d’absorption non linéaire. Ce saut technologique a vu l’émergence de nombreuses applications associées au phénomène de confinement spatial. La stéréolithographie 3D par photopolymérisation biphotonique constitue un exemple typique d’application à forte valeur ajoutée qui offre de prometteuses perspectives en terme d’écriture à l’échelle nanométrique. Un enjeu fondamental constitue alors l’élaboration de nouveaux photoamorceurs très réactifs et activables à deux photons. Dans ce contexte, ce manuscrit présente une étude photophysique et photochimique de deux séries de photoamorceurs biphotoniques ‘Donneur/Accepteur’ intégrants des stilbènes comme relais électroniques avec pré-organisation dans des structures bichromophores. Les processus primaires photoinduits, les mécanismes de photoamorçage, la photoréactivité à l’echelle locale sont décrits et étudiés méthodiquement. Enfin, le potentiel appliqué de cette nouvelle génération de photoamorceurs est mis en évidence en microfabrication multiphotonique à travers l’élaboration de structure 3D à l’échelle µm. / The advent of pulsed laser technologies has promoted the rapid growth of new emerging research domains which aim at probing and/or transforming materials at local scale using non linear absorption processes. A large range of applications takes benefit of the inherent spatial containment observed in non linear absorption processes so as to control photoreactions at nm-scale. The field of multiphoton fabrication (or stereolithography) addresses this fundamental issue and has developed rapidly so that it is no longer a rapid prototyping technology but a real manufacturing technique that is commercially available. The development of multiphoton stereolitography also requires highly reactive two-photon activable (2PA) initiators whose design and elaboration are the subject of considerable molecular engineering research. In this context, the present manuscript describes the photophysical and photochemical properties of two series of 2PA initiators. Such novel D--A structures have be designed by associating distinctive Donor and Acceptor groups into stilbene arms used as ‘electron relay’ and organized into a (multi)branched architecture. The photoinduced primary processes, the global photoinitiating mechanisms as well as the photoreactivity are described methodically. We finally demonstrate the applied potential of this new type of two-photon initiators in multiphoton stereolitography.

L’objectif de cette thèse a été de synthétiser, caractériser et évaluer l’efficacité de photosensibilisateurs (PS) activables par excitation mono- et bi-photonique pour la thérapie photodynamique (PDT). Les PSs sont des dérivés de porphyrines qui ont été associés à différents composés incluants des sondes d’imagerie, des vecteurs, ou des nanoparticules, dans le but d’améliorer l’efficacité du traitement. Un PS a ainsi été relié à deux complexes de Gd(III) pour former un agent moléculaire théranostique afin de pouvoir suivre l’évolution de la PDT par imagerie par résonance magnétique (IRM). Cet agent théranostique conserve les bonnes propriétés photophysiques du PS et sa relaxivité remarquable permet l’imagerie à des concentrations plus faibles que les agents de contraste commerciaux. L’association d’un PS avec un vecteur, l’acide folique ou la biotine, a permis d’augmenter la sélectivité envers les cellules cancéreuses. L’augmentation de la phototoxicité envers des cellules HeLa pour ces deux PSs par rapport au PS non vectorisé montre le potentiel de ces deux PSs vectorisés pour la PDT par excitation mono et bi-photonique. Enfin, plusieurs PS ont été liés ou incorporés dans des cubosomes pour améliorer leur biodistribution et leurs phototoxicités ont été étudiées. Ces études montrent pour la première fois la possibilité d’utiliser des cubosomes comme formulation pour les PSs. / The aim of this thesis was to synthesize, characterize and evaluate the efficiency of new photosensitizers (PS) for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) activated by a one- or two-photon absorption. Theses PSs are composed of π-extended porphyrins linked to imaging probes, targeting moieties or nanoparticles to improve the treatment efficiency. A PS was linked to two Gd(III) complexes to form a molecular theranostic agent allowing the monitoring of the PDT outcome by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This molecular theranostic agent retains the good photophysical properties of the PS and its high relaxivity allows the imaging at a lower concentration than the commercial contrast agents. In order to increase the selectivity towards cancer cells a PS was linked to folic acid or biotin, two targeting compounds. The increase of the phototoxicity towards HeLa cells of these two targeted PSs compared to a non-targeted PS reveals the potential for one- and two-photon PDT. Finally, several PSs have been linked to cubosomes to increase the biodistribution and their phototoxicity has been investigated. This study shows for the first time that cubosomes can be used as a formulation for PSs.

No presente trabalho produzimos microestruturas, através da técnica de fotopolimerização via absorção de dois fótons, dopadas com nanofios de ZnO, um material que vem sendo amplamente explorado devido as suas interessantes propriedades ópticas e elétricas. Para a fabricação das microestruturas, utilizamos um oscilador laser de Ti:safira que produz pulsos de aproximadamente 100 fs em 800 nm. A intensidade dos pulsos de femtossegundos é alta o suficiente para induzir a absorção¬ de dois fótons em torno do volume focal, localizando a polimerização a esta região. Portanto, através da varredura do feixe na resina polimérica fabrica-se a estrutura desejada. Neste trabalho, desenvolvemos uma metodologia para introduzir nanofios de ZnO às microestruturas fabricadas, a partir da mistura do pó de nanofios de ZnO à resina acrílica. A resina utilizada é uma combinação de duas resinas, o etoxilated(6)trimethylolpropane triacrylate (SR-499) e tris(2-hydroxy ethyl)isocyanurate triacrylate (SR-368). Como fotoiniciador utilizamos o Lucirin TPO-L (2,4,6-trimetilbenzoiletoxifenil phosphine oxide). As microestruturas produzidas foram caracterizadas pelas técnicas de microscopia óptica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, espectroscopia de energia dispersiva, difração de Raios X e espectroscopia de espalhamento micro-Raman. Através destas técnicas, foi possível observar a presença dos nanofios nas microestruturas, bem como caracterizar suas propriedades morfológicas que se mostram adequadas para o desenvolvimento de microdispositivos. Observamos também a emissão de fluorescência das microestruturas excitadas por um e dois fótons. Sendo assim, a metodologia de fabricação descrita aqui pode ser usada como mais uma opção na concepção de novos dispositivos tecnológicos. / In this study we fabricated microstructures, using the two-photon polymerization technique, containing ZnO nanowires, a material that has been widely exploited due to their interesting optical and electrical properties. For the microstructures fabrication, we used Ti:Sapphire laser oscillator operating at 800 nm with 100 fs pulses. The intensity of the fs-pulses is high enough to induce two-photon absorption, confining the excitation and thus the polymerization to the focal volume. By scanning the beam across the resin the desired microstructure is fabricated. In this work, we developed a method to introduce ZnO nanowires in the fabricated microstructure by mixing the ZnO nanowires powder to the acrylic resin. The used resin is a combination of two compounds, etoxilated(6)trimethylolpropane triacrylate (SR-499) and tris(2-hydroxy ethyl)isocyanurate triacrylate (SR-368). As a photoinitiator we have used Lucirin TPO-L (2,4,6-trimetilbenzoiletoxifenil phosphine oxide).The produced samples were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and micro-Raman scattering. From these techniques it was possible to observe the presence of nanowires in the microstructures, as well as to characterize the morphological properties, which has been shown to be interesting for developing microdevices. We have also observed fluorescent emission of the microstructures excites by one and two-photons absorption. Therefore, the methodology described here can be used as an alternative in the design of new optical devices.

A larga banda espectral, característica de pulsos ultracurtos de luz laser, tem possibilitado o controle coerente da interação da luz com a matéria através da manipulação das componentes espectrais da fase do pulso. Esta nova área de pesquisa tem sido responsável por avanços no entendimento e controle de fenômenos foto-induzidos, especialmente no que diz respeito a processos ópticos não lineares. Nesta tese de doutorado, estudamos o controle coerente da absorção de dois fótons (A2F) em compostos orgânicos usando pulsos de femtossegundos. O processo de A2F em derivados de perilenos foi investigado utilizando pulsos com chirp linear (máscara de fase quadrática), a partir do monitoramento da fluorescência excitada por dois fótons. A otimização da A2F desses compostos, através da formatação da fase do pulso via algorítmo genético, revelou que pulsos limitados por transformada de Fourier induzem maior A2F. Cálculos de Química Quântica, empregando o formalismo da teoria do funcional densidade, foram utilizados para caracterizar a estrutura eletrônica e determinar as transições permitidas por dois fótons nos derivados de perilenos, fundamentando nossos resultados experimentais. Além disso, estudamos também o controle coerente da A2F de compostos orgânicos aplicando uma máscara de fase senoidal ao pulso. Neste caso, demonstramos que a eficiência do controle depende da posição relativa entre o comprimento de onda central do pulso e da banda de A2F do material. Finalmente, o controle coerente da A2F foi investigado com o uso de uma máscara de fase do tipo degrau. Nossos resultados evidenciam a importância da relação entre a banda espectral do pulso e a largura de linha da A2F do material para atingir o controle da A2F. Em conclusão, os resultados obtidos neste trabalho ajudam a esclarecer aspectos do controle coerente, obtido com pulsos ultracurtos formatados, em sistemas moleculares. / The broad spectral band of ultrashort laser pulses has been used to coherently control the lightmatter interaction, by acting on the spectral phase of pulses using the so called pulse shaping methods. This new research area has been held responsible for advances in the understanding and controlling of photo-induced phenomena, especially in nonlinear optics. In this work, we studied the coherent control of two-photon absorption (2PA) processes in organic compounds, employing femtosecond pulses. We investigated the 2PA of perylene derivatives using chirped pulses (quadratic phase mask), by monitoring the two-photon excited fluorescence. Optimization of 2PA in perylene derivatives was achieved by shaping the pulse using a genetic algorithm, which revealed that Fourier transform limited pulses lead to higher 2PA. Quantum chemical calculations, using Density Functional Theory, were carried out to characterize the electronic structure and determine the allowed two-photon transitions of perylene derivatives, backing up our experimental results. Furthermore, we also studied the coherent control of 2PA in organic molecules applying a cosine-like phase mask. In such case, we demonstrated that the control efficiency depends on the detuning between the pulse central wavelength and materials 2PA band. Finally, coherent control of 2PA was explored using a step-like phase mask. Our results indicate that, in this situation, control of 2PA is only attained if a specific ratio between the pulse bandwidth and the 2PA transition bandwidth is used. In conclusion, the results obtained in this work help the understanding of coherent control in molecular systems.

Orientador: Lázaro Aurélio Padilha Junior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-02T09:51:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nagamine_Gabriel_M.pdf: 6846623 bytes, checksum: 1daab6ac65771517c50786728dfce86e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / Resumo: Pontos quânticos coloidais (QDs) ternários de CuInS2 (CIS) surgiram como uma alternativa não tóxica, altamente promissora, aos já bem estabelecidos QDs binários de CdX e PbX (X=Se,S). Além de não possuírem metais pesados em sua composição, esses novos materiais apresentam diversas características desejáveis, o que os torna fortes candidatos a serem aplicados em novas tecnologias, tanto em biologia quanto na geração de nova fontes de energia renovável. Além disso, esses QDs apresentam diversas propriedades ópticas que os diferem radicalmente dos QDs binários já conhecidos e ainda são pouco compreendidas. Dentre elas, podemos citar um largo espectro de fotoluminescência (PL), com decaimentos longos e multi-exponenciais e um espectro de absorção pouco definido, com uma longa cauda que vai para o infravermelho. Adicionalmente, esses nanomateriais apresentam um grande Stokes shift, de até 500 meV, cuja origem ainda é desconhecida e amplamente debatida na literatura. Com o intuito de desvendar os mecanismos por trás dessas propriedades distintas, nesse trabalho, realizamos uma série de estudos da sua dinâmica ultrarrápida e de espectroscopia não-linear para revelar a estrutura eletrônica desses QDs. Das medidas de dinâmica ultrarrápida, mostramos uma maneira alternativa de medir-se o tamanho dessas nanopartículas, por meio da sua seção de choque de absorção em 3,1 eV, que seria independente da variabilidade morfológica apresentada por elas. Adicionalmente, fazendo um estudo da dependência das interações multi-éxciton desses QDs com o tamanho, reportamos que esses nanomateriais apresentam interações Coulombianas reduzidas em relação aos QDs binários já conhecidos. Das medidas de espectroscopia não-linear, mostramos a primeira comprovação experimental de que a transição óptica entre os níveis fundamentais da banda de valência e condução é proibida por paridade em partículas esféricas. Além disso, comparando o espectro de absorção de 2 fótons das amostras estudadas com imagens de microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (TEM), mostramos que quebras na simetria das funções de onda dos portadores nesses QDs alteram as suas regras de seleção para transições ópticas. Adicionalmente, verificamos que, controlando a composição e tamanho desses QDs, é possível obter seções de choque de 2PA de até 13.500 GM dentro da janela de transparência óptica do tecido do corpo humano / Abstract: Ternary CuInS2 (CIS) Colloidal Quantum Dots (QDs) have emerged as a non-toxic promising alternative to the CdX and PbX (X=Se,S) binary QDs. Besides not having heavy metals on their composition, these new materials show several desirable features, which makes them strong candidates to be applied in new technologies, from biology to the new generation of renewable energy sources. Furthermore, these QDs present various optical properties that radically differs from the already well studied binary QDs and yet are not well understood. Among them, we can cite a large photoluminescence (PL) spectra, with long and multi-exponential decays and a poorly defined absorption spectra, with a long infrared tail. Additionally, these nanomaterials present large Stokes shift, up to 500 meV, whose origin is still not well understood and largely debated on the literature. To reveal the mechanism behind these distinguished properties, here, we perform a series of ultrafast spectroscopy and non-linear spectroscopy studies to reveal the electronic band structure of these QDs. From the ultrafast dynamics measurements, we show an alternative way to measure the size of these nanoparticles, through their absorption cross section in 3,1 eV, which would be independent from the morphologic variability presented by them. Additionally, by performing studies of the size dependent multi-exciton interactions, we report that these kind of nanomaterials present reduced Coulombic interactions in relation to de already known binary QDs. From the non-linear spectroscopy measurements, we show the first experimental confirmation that the optical transition between the electron and hole ground state are parity forbidden in the spherical particles. In addition, comparing the two-photon absorption (2PA) spectra of the studied samples with their transmission electron microscopy images, we show that symmetry breaking of the electronic wave functions in these QDs change their optical transition selection rules. Additionally, we verify that, by controlling the size and composition of these QDs, it is possible to obtain 2PA cross section as high as 13,500 GM inside the transparency window of the human tissue / Mestrado / Física / Mestre em Física / 1547612/2015 / 13/16911-2 / CAPES / FAPESP

Ce travail présente la mise en œuvre du test par faisceau laser TPA pour l’étude de la sensibilité au phénomène SEB dans les diodes schottky en carbure de silicium. Le contexte de l’étude est décrit par un état de l’art du SEB sur les MOSFETs et Diodes en Silicium et en carbure de silicium. Une étude technologique et structurelle des composants en SiC a permis de dégager les avantages du SiC par rapport au Si conventionnel et a permis d’analyser les dégâts causés par le faisceau TPA. L’utilisation du montage expérimental sur la plateforme ATLAS dédié spécifiquement au test de matériaux à grand gap a permis de mettre en place une méthodologie de test sur des diodes schottky en SiC. L’efficacité de cette méthodologie est prouvée par l’obtention de résultats expérimentaux très originaux. La susceptibilité au SEB induit par la technique laser TPA a été démontrée. Les mesures SOA ont permis d’évaluer la robustesse des diodes schottky SiC face aux événements singuliers. Une modélisation analytique a été menée afin de comprendre la cause du mécanisme du SEB et la localisation des défauts induits par le faisceau TPA. / This work presents the implementation of the TPA laser beam testing to study the SEB phenomenon in silicon carbide Schottky diodes. The context of the study is described by a state of the art of SEB on Si and SiC MOSFETs and Diodes. Technological and structural study of SiC components has identified the benefits of SiC compared to conventional Si and permits to analyze the damage caused by the TPA beam. Using the experimental setup of the ATLAS platform dedicated specifically to test large gap materials has set up a test methodology on SiC Schottky diodes. The effectiveness of this methodology is demonstrated by obtaining original experimental results. Susceptibility to SEB induced by TPA laser technique has been demonstrated. SOA measurements were used to assess the robustness of SiC Schottky diodes to single event effects.An analytical modeling was conducted to understand the cause of the SEB mechanism and the location of defects induced by the TPA beam.

Cette thèse est consacrée à l’étude des mécanismes d’interaction laser-matière en régime femtoseconde pour l’analyse de circuits intégrés par stimulation photoélectrique non-linéaire. Cette technique permet d’accroitre la résolution pour répondre à la miniaturisation des composants électroniques. Les milieux étudiés dans ce travail sont plus particulièrement le silicium, matériau constitutif des circuits intégrés, et la silice pour le transport des impulsions laser dans une fibre optique. En effet, l’émergence de cette technique d’analyse en milieu industriel requiert l’utilisation de systèmes compacts, fiables et sécuritaires. Les simulations réalisées montrent la génération de charges dans le silicium et la propagation des impulsions dans des fibres photoniques à cœur creux identifiées pour limiter les effets non-linéaires. Des expérimentations sur composants permettent de les confronter aux simulations et de valider l’utilisation de ce type de fibres.Enfin, ce travail a permis de déterminer les paramètres optiques et laser essentiels ainsi que les technologies compatibles avec les contraintes industrielles en analyse de circuits intégrés. / This thesis is dedicated to the study of laser-matter interaction mechanisms in femtosecond regime for the analysis of integrated circuits by nonlinear photoelectric laser stimulation. This technique improves the resolution in order to deal with the miniaturization of electronic components. The materials studied in this work are silicon, a major chemical component in semiconductor electronics, and silica used for transporting laser pulses in optical fibers. Indeed, the emergence of this analysis technique in industrial environments needs the use of compact, reliable and safe systems. The performed simulations show charge generation in silicon and propagation of pulses in photonic fibers identified for limiting nonlinear effects. Some experiments on components allow a comparison with simulations and validation of the use of this type of fibers. Finally, this work was able to identify key optical and laser parameters along with technologies compatible with industrial constraints in integrated circuit analysis.

Les interactions plasma surface (PSI) sont considérées comme l'un des défis scientifiques majeurs de la fusion nucléaire magnétique contrôlée. L'interaction entre les isotopes d'hydrogène et les matériaux de l’enceinte à plasma tels que le tungstène revêt une importance particulière. Le coefficient de perte en surface des isotopes atomiques (γ) est un point clé dans les études PSI. Il peut donner des informations sur le recyclage de l'hydrogène atomique à la paroi et constitue ainsi un paramètre clé dans les modélisations des interactions plasma surface. Le but de ce projet est de déterminer les coefficients de perte de surface de l'hydrogène atomique et du deutérium sur échantillons de tungstène (W) et de nitrure de tungstène (WN) en utilisant une technique de fluorescence induite par plasma (PIF) et une technique de fluorescence induite par laser à deux photons (TALIF). Ce projet s'effectue dans le réacteur CAMITER qui est un réacteur plasma radiofréquence à basse pression au laboratoire PIIM de l'Université Aix-Marseille. / Plasma surface interaction (PSI) is considered to be one of the key scientific challenges in nuclear fusion. The interaction between hydrogen isotopes and plasma-facing materials such as tungsten is of particular importance. The atomic hydrogen isotope surface loss coefficient (γ) is a key point in PSI studies. It can give information on hydrogen isotope inventory and is an important input for modeling and theoretical work. The aim of this project is to determine atomic hydrogen and deuterium surface loss coefficients on tungsten (W) sample by using two-photon-absorption laser induced fluorescence (TALIF) and pulsed induced fluorescence (PIF) technique. This project is carried out in CAMITER reactor which is a low-pressure radio-frequency ICP reactor at PIIM laboratory in Aix-Marseille University.

Développer de nouveaux fluorophores ayant une forte section efficace d’absorption à deux photons (ADP) et des propriétés d'émission dans le rouge lointain est important, en particulier pour l’imagerie in-vivo profonde. Cette gamme de longueur d'onde correspond en effet à la fenêtre de transparence optique des tissus. Cette thèse étudie le potentiel de nouveaux fluorophores émettant dans rouge construits sur un noyau fluorène pour la microscopie à deux photons in-vivo, en privilégiant l'imagerie du système vasculaire, d'une part, et la mesure optique de la pression d'oxygène dissous, d'autre part.Ainsi, une famille de chromophores asymétriques a été conçue et synthétisée. La plupart des chromophores présentent une forte émission dans le proche IR, induite par l'agrégation. De plus, une stratégie de co-protection basée sur un système micellaire / silice a été utilisé pour préparer des nanoparticules avec un intérieur apolaire et conserver les propriétés optiques des chromophores dipolaires en solution aqueuse. Des mesures de fluorescence excitée à deux photons ont été menées en solvant organique et en suspension aqueuse. Les agrégats et les nanoparticules ont été utilisés avec succès en imagerie biphotonique du système vasculaire sur petit animal en utilisant un modèle de tumeur à l'intérieur de la peau de l'oreille de la souris. Les nanoparticules de silice montrent une coloration exceptionnelle du système vasculaire qui en fait de parfaits marqueurs du système vasculaire.Dans un deuxième temps, quatre nouveaux chromophores, absorbant à deux photons, ont été synthétisés et leurs propriétés photo physiques à un et à deux photons ont été étudiées. Le chromophore le plus adapté a ensuite été greffé de manière covalente par chimie click, à un complexe de palladium avec un ligand porphyrine, cœur phosphorescent dont l’émission est sensible à la présence d’oxygène. Deux composés contenant quatre ou huit absorbeur à deux photons ont été obtenus et étudiés. Les résultats démontrent que l'incorporation d'un chromophore ADP approprié peut effectivement augmenter les propriétés d’ADP du système, ce qui permet une sensibilité efficace vis-à-vis de l'oxygène. / The development of fluorophores with efficient two-photon absorption (TPA) and emission properties in the far red/NIR is important, especially for in depth in-vivo optical imaging as this wavelength range corresponds to the optical transparency window of tissues. This thesis investigates the potential of new red emitting fluorophores containing a fluorene ring for in-vivo two-photon microscopy focusing on vascular imaging on one hand and on oxygen pressure measurement on the other hand.A new series of asymmetrical fluorene-based chromophores were designed and synthesized. Their structure-property relationships were systematically investigated. It was found that most of chromophores exhibit aggregation-induced emission behaviors in the NIR region. In addition, a micelle/silica coprotection strategy was proposed to prepare nanoparticles with a less polar interior, which can be used to conserve optical properties of dipole chromophores in aqueous solution. The two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) measurements indicate that they all display obvious TPA activities in organic solvent and aqueous suspension. Both the NIR-emissive aggregates and nanoparticles have been successfully used for TPEF imaging of blood vessels inside mouse ear skin. The silica nanoparticles show outstanding staining of the vascular system making them perfect blood pool markers.On a second part, four new fluorene-based two-photon absorbing chromophores have been synthesized and their one- and two-photon photophysical properties were investigated. The optimum chromophore was successfully attached covalently to an oxygen responsive phosphorescent Pd-porphyrin complex by click chemistry. Two new compounds contain four or eight TPA chromophores donor connected to the phosphorescent core. The result demonstrate that the incorporation of a suitable TPA chromophore can effectively enhance the TPA of the system, allowing efficient sensitivity towards oxygen.