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Self‐Assembled Fluorescent Nanoparticles from π‐Conjugated Small Molecules: En Route to Biological Applications
Author(s) -
Schill Jurgen,
Schenning Albertus P. H. J.,
Brunsveld Luc
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201500117
Subject(s) - conjugated system , nanotechnology , supramolecular chemistry , fluorene , materials science , perylene , nanoparticle , chromophore , self assembly , biological imaging , fluorescence , small molecule , molecule , chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , composite material
Since the development of supramolecular chemical biology, self‐organised nano‐architectures have been widely explored in a variety of biomedical applications. Functionalized synthetic molecules with the ability of non‐covalent assembly in an aqueous environment are typically able to interact with biological systems and are therefore especially interesting for their use in theranostics. Nanostructures based on π‐conjugated oligomers are particularly promising as theranostic platforms as they bear outstanding photophysical properties as well as drug loading capabilities. This Feature Article provides an overview on the recent advances in the self‐assembly of intrinsically fluorescent nanoparticles from π‐conjugated small molecules such as fluorene or perylene based chromophores for biomedical applications.