Preparation, Characterization and Cell Imaging of pHresponsive Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles

doi:10.7517/j.issn.1674-0475.2014.01.121

Abstract

Abstract:

Conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) have attracted much attention in biomaterials and biomedical fields owning to their high brightness, low cytotoxicity and easy modification properties. Herein, a new conjugated polymer PFPA was synthesized and the nanoparticles were prepared using a nanoprecipitation method. Dynamic light scattering experiment indicates that PFPA nanoparticles possess small size with an average diameter of 8 nm in water. PFPA nanoparticles exhibit maximum absorption peak at 379 nm with a molar absorption coefficient of 2.1×10⁶ L·mol^-1·cm^-1 and maximum emission peak at 422 nm with a fluorescence quantum yield of 35%. Moreover, PFPA nanoparticles exhibit a satisfactory photostability under the irradiation of mercury lamp (100 W), and also display less cytotoxicity. In the aspect of applications, pHresponsive optical behavior and cell imaging ability make PFPA nanoparticles an attractive candidate for cancer diagnosis, drug and gene delivery.

Key words: conjugated polymer nanoparticles, fluorescence probe, pHresponsive, cell imaging

WANG Jianwu, ZHU Chunlei, FENG Liheng, YUAN Huanxiang, LU Fengting, LIU Libing, WANG Shu. Preparation, Characterization and Cell Imaging of pHresponsive Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles[J]. Imaging Science and Photochemistry, 2014, 32(1): 121-130.

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