In Vivo Repeatedly Charging Near‐Infrared‐Emitting Mesoporous SiO(2)/ZnGa(2)O(4):Cr(3+) Persistent Luminescence Nanocomposites

Near‐infrared (NIR) persistent phosphor ZnGa(2)O(4):Cr(3+) (ZGC) has unique deep‐tissue rechargeable afterglow properties. However, the current synthesis leads to agglomerated products with irregular morphologies and wide size distributions. Herein, we report on in vivo rechargeable mesoporous SiO(2)/ZnGa(2)O(4):Cr(3+) (mZGC) afterglow NIR‐emitting nanocomposites that are made by a simple, one‐step mesoporous template method. At less than 600 °C, pores in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) act as nanoreactors to generate in situ ZnGa(2)O(4):Cr(3+) NIR‐persistent phosphors. The as‐synthesized mZGC preserves defined size, morphology, and mesoporous nanostructure of the MSNs. The persistent luminescence of the as‐synthesized mZGC is recharged in a simulated deep‐tissue environment (e.g., ≈8 mm pork slab) in vitro by using red light (620 nm). Moreover, mZGC can be repeatedly activated in vivo for persistent luminescence imaging in a live mouse model by using white LED as a light source. Our concept of utilizing mesoporous silica as nanoreactor to fabricate ZGC PL nanoparticles with controllable morphology and preserved porous nanostructure paves a new way to the development and the wide application of deep tissue rechargeable ZGC in photonics and biophotonics.