Abstract In recent years, florescent polymeric nanoparticles (FPNs) containing aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorogens have received great intention for their potential applications in biological imaging and theranostic nanomedicine. Herein, we have… Click to show full abstract
Abstract In recent years, florescent polymeric nanoparticles (FPNs) containing aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorogens have received great intention for their potential applications in biological imaging and theranostic nanomedicine. Herein, we have developed AIE-active FPNs through a combination of reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and post-polymerization modification strategies. The salicylaldehyde (SA) containing zwitterionic copolymers are fabricated via RAFT polymerization and further modified by benzophenone hydrazone (BPH) via Schiff base reaction. The obtained AIE-active amphiphilic copolymers BPH-poly(FHMA-co-MPC) can self-assemble in aqueous solution with the hydrophobic fluorogens aggregating together to form the core and the hydrophilic chains to form the protective shell. BPH-poly(FHMA-co-MPC) and the resulting FPNs are characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. Results demonstrate that BPH-poly(FHMA-co-MPC) are successfully synthesized and as-prepared BPH-poly(FHMA-co-MPC) FPNs exhibit desirable morphology and size, good dispersibility, high brightness, remarkable photostability and large Stokes shifts. More importantly, through cytotoxicity test and cell uptake behavior, these BPH-poly(FHMA-co-MPC) FPNs show low toxicity and excellent cell dyeing behavior. Taken together, we have developed a facile and effective method for the fabrication of AIE-active FPNs, which display great potential for biomedical applications.
               
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