Characterization of the LbL NIR-II NPs. (A) Illustration of a spherical LbL NIR-II NP. From inside to outside: NIR-II core (red), PLA (blue), DXS (yellow), PLA (blue), and HA (green). (B) TEM images of the LbL NIR-II NPs. [Scale bars: 50 nm (5 nm for SWNT).] (C) DLS characterizations of the NPs for each LbL step, including hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential, and PDI. Data are given in mean ± SD, n = 3. (D and E) Normalized absorption (D) and emission (E) spectra of the NPs.