Citation: Yinchan Zhang, Wenting Yin, Guoli Han, Yiyan Ruan, Qinglong Qiao, Zhaochao Xu. In situ real-time imaging of photothermal-induced rupture of self-assembled naphthalimide nanofibers[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(7): 112627. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2026.112627 shu

In situ real-time imaging of photothermal-induced rupture of self-assembled naphthalimide nanofibers

Yinchan Zhang ^{a, b} ,
Wenting Yin ^{a, *,} ,
Guoli Han ^{a, b} ,
Yiyan Ruan ^{a, b} ,
Qinglong Qiao ^a ,
Zhaochao Xu ^{a, b, *,}

a.
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
b.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

wenting_yin@dicp.ac.cn

zcxu@dicp.ac.cn

Received Date: 8 March 2026
Revised Date: 12 March 2026
Accepted Date: 12 March 2026
Available Online: 13 March 2026

Figures(5)

Photoresponsive supramolecular polymers hold great promise for applications in sensing, actuation, and biomedicine. However, the role of photothermal effects in regulating supramolecular assemblies and their dynamic structural evolution at the microscopic level remains poorly understood, as most studies have primarily focused on molecular photochemical mechanisms. Herein, we report a photothermal-responsive supramolecular system based on 1,8-naphthalimide building blocks. By reducing hydrogen-bonding sites through modification of the amide N-substituent of BAze from 4-(hydroxymethyl)benzyl to benzyl, an OH-free derivative, PhAze, was obtained. This subtle structural change endows PhAze assemblies with photoresponsive behavior that markedly differs from that of BAze assemblies. Upon 488 nm laser irradiation, PhAze assemblies undergo nanofiber rupture accompanied by ~40% fluorescence enhancement, whereas BAze assemblies show only a slight fluorescence decrease without morphological change. Real-time in situ observation based on confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) reveals the dynamic photoresponse of PhAze nanofibers. Localized fluorescence enhancement first appears along the fibers, followed by the formation of molten-like microspheres that ultimately lead to fiber rupture. Two distinct modes of microsphere formation, synchronous and asynchronous, are identified during this process. Moreover, thermal imaging further confirms that the response originates from a photothermal effect, where localized temperature rise weakens noncovalent interactions and induces partial melting of the supramolecular fibers. This study provides direct in situ insights into photothermal-driven structural evolution in supramolecular assemblies and offers a new strategy for designing photothermal-responsive supramolecular materials.
- Naphthalimide,
- Self-assembly,
- In situ real-time imaging,
- Photoresponse dynamic,
- Confocal laser scanning microscopy
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