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A Molecular Brush Approach to Enhance Quantum Yield and Suppress Nonspecific Interactions of Conjugated Polyelectrolyte for Targeted Far‐Red/Near‐Infrared Fluorescence Cell Imaging
Author(s) -
Pu KanYi,
Li Kai,
Liu Bin
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201090076
Subject(s) - biomolecule , conjugated system , quantum yield , fluorescence , materials science , ethylene glycol , aqueous solution , polyelectrolyte , nanotechnology , biophysics , photochemistry , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer , optics , composite material , biology , physics , engineering
A red‐fluorescent conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE, P2 ) is grafted with dense poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains via click chemistry and subsequently modified with folic acid to form a molecular brush based cellular probe ( P4 ). P4 self‐assembles into a core–shell nanostructure in aqueous medium with an average size of 130 nm measured by laser light scattering. As compared to P2 , P4 possesses not only a substantially higher quantum yield (11%), but also reduced nonspecific interactions with biomolecules in aqueous medium due to the shielding effect of PEG. In conjunction with its high photostability and low cytotoxicity, utilization of P4 as a far‐red/near‐infrared cellular probe allows for effective visualization and discrimination of MCF‐7 cancer cells from NIH‐3T3 normal cells in a high contrast, selective, and nonviral manner. This study thus demonstrates a flexible molecular brush approach to overcome the intrinsic drawbacks of CPEs for advanced bioimaging applications.