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However, engineering CDs with near\u2010infrared emission, especially in the second near\u2010infrared window (NIR\u2010II), remains a significant challenge. Herein, we propose a cyano\u2010mediated donor\u2010acceptor (D\u2010A) engineering strategy to synthesize NIR\u2010II emissive CDs (FC\u2010CDs), using benzene\u20101,2,4,5\u2010tetracarbonitrile, a molecule rich in electron\u2010withdrawing cyano groups, as the precursor. Meanwhile, the in situ introduction of folic acid (FA) during the solvothermal process facilitates enhanced biocompatibility and tumor\u2010targeting ability. The cyano groups on FC\u2010CDs enable the formation of a unique D\u2010A configuration, in which the carbon core acts as the electron donor and the electron\u2010withdrawing\u2010groups\u2010functionalized surface serves as the electron acceptor. Experimental and theoretical evidence suggests that this D\u2010A structure facilitates efficient intramolecular charge transfer and narrows the optical bandgap, both of which are key to achieving NIR\u2010II emission. Thanks to the good biocompatibility and NIR\u2010II characteristics, the performance of FC\u2010CDs in in vivo NIR\u2010II bioimaging (e.g., angiography, hepatic ischemia\u2010reperfusion monitoring, and tumor\u2010targeted imaging) has been verified. This cyano\u2010mediated D\u2010A engineering strategy thus provides insights into designing NIR\u2010II emissive CDs for biomedical applications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/smll.74350","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T15:54:41Z","timestamp":1782921281000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Cyano\u2010Mediated Donor\u2010Acceptor Engineering: A Rational Strategy to Boost Charge Transfer in Carbon Dots for NIR\u2010II Bioimaging"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"22","author":[{"given":"Xianming","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials Department of Biomedical Engineering Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)  Shenzhen Guangdong China"},{"name":"Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering 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