Reversible light-controlled fluorescence switch of block polymer-grafted carbon dots and cellular imaging. Issue 41 (12th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Shilin; Liao, Bo; Liang, Enxiang; Yi, Shoujun; Liao, Qing
• Is Part Of: Soft matter. Volume 18:Issue 41(2022)
• Page Start: 8017
• Page End: 8023
• Publication Date: 2022-10-12
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; 530.413
• DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01087a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-683X

Abstract

Abstract : Novel aggregation induced emission nanoparticles, which are carbon dots grafted with a polymer of tetraphenylethylene, spiropyran and N -isopropylacrylamide, were synthesized. Their fluorescence can reversibly transform cyan to red by light irradiation. Abstract : A novel type of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) nanoparticles, which are carbon dots (CDs) grafted with block polymer of tetraphenylethylene, spiropyran and N -isopropylacrylamide (CD- g -poly((TPE- co -SPA)- block -NIPAM)), was synthesized. The CD- g -poly((TPE- co -SPA)- block -NIPAM) nanoparticles can emit weak cyan fluorescence in tetrahydrofuran, while showing AIE-enhanced cyan fluorescence in water and solid film. The fluorescence of the CD- g -poly((TPE- co -SPA)- block -NIPAM) nanoparticles can reversibly transform cyan to red with UV/visible light irradiation, and functioned as a reversible fluorescence photoswitch. Importantly, the CD- g -poly((TPE- co -SPA)- block -NIPAM) nanoparticles have low cytotoxicity and, therefore, can be used for imaging in living cells.