Fluorescent Polymer—Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Complexes with Charged and Noncharged Dendronized Perylene Bisimides for Bioimaging Studies. Issue 28 (5th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huth, Katharina; Glaeske, Mareen; Achazi, Katharina; Gordeev, Georgy; Kumar, Shiv; Arenal, Raúl; Sharma, Sunil K.; Adeli, Mohsen; Setaro, Antonio; Reich, Stephanie; Haag, Rainer
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 14:Issue 28(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-06-05
• Subjects: bioimaging -- cytocompatibility -- optical window -- perylene bisimide -- single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs); Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201800796
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: Fluorescent nanomaterials are expected to revolutionize medical diagnostic, imaging, and therapeutic tools due to their superior optical and structural properties. Their inefficient water solubility, cell permeability, biodistribution, and high toxicity, however, limit the full potential of their application. To overcome these obstacles, a water‐soluble, fluorescent, cytocompatible polymer—single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) complex is introduced for bioimaging applications. The supramolecular complex consists of an alkylated polymer conjugated with neutral hydroxylated or charged sulfated dendronized perylene bisimides (PBIs) and SWNTs as a general immobilization platform. The polymer backbone solubilizes the SWNTs, decorates them with fluorescent PBIs, and strongly improves their cytocompatibility by wrapping around the SWNT scaffold. In photophysical measurements and biological in vitro studies, sulfated complexes exhibit superior optical properties, cellular uptake, and intracellular staining over their hydroxylated analogs. A toxicity assay confirms the highly improved cytocompatibility of the polymer‐wrapped SWNTs toward surfactant‐solubilized SWNTs. In microscopy studies the complexes allow for the direct imaging of the SWNTs' cellular uptake via the PBI and SWNT emission using the 1st and 2nd optical window for bioimaging. These findings render the polymer‐SWNT complexes with nanometer size, dual fluorescence, multiple charges, and high cytocompatibility as valuable systems for a broad range of fluorescence bioimaging studies. Abstract : It is the mixture that counts: dyes + polymers + single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) = multifunctional complexes! The combination of bright perylene bisimide (PBIs) fluorophores, cytocompatible polymers, and immobilizing SWNTs leads to highly fluorescent polymer‐SWNT complexes for bioimaging applications. The multifunctional system enables the direct imaging of the SWNTs' cellular uptake in two optical transparency windows and strongly improves their cytocompatibility.