Novel chromophores for biphotonic related applications

Applications related to two-photon absorption (TPA) are numerous and concern different fields: fluorescence imaging, optical data storage, 3D microfabrication, photodynamic therapy of cancer, optical limiting. We will present different approaches of molecular engineering for the design of two-photon absorbors from the visible to the near-IR and particularly at telecommunication wavelengths. We will show that the oligomer strategy, inducing excitonic interactions between each monomer, lead to high TPA efficiencies in the visible for optical limiting. TPA properties of polymethine cyanines between 1400 and 1600 nm give rise to optical limiting at telecommunication wavelengths. TPA properties of highly luminescent lanthanides complexes will be presented with their using in proteines crystals or cells imaging.