Silver nanocube-enhanced far-red/near-infrared fluorescence of conjugated polyelectrolyte for cellular imaging.
We present the study of silver nanocube (Ag NC)-enhanced fluorescence of a cationic conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) for far-red/near-infrared fluorescence cell imaging. Layer-by-layer self-assembly of polyelectrolytes on 78 nm Ag NCs is used to control CPE-metal distance and its effect on CPE fluorescence. The highest fluorescence enhancement factor (FEF) is obtained for Ag NCs with two bilayers, corresponding to a CPE-metal spacer thickness of ~6 nm. At the optimal excitation wavelength, the FEF is 13.8 with respect to the control silica nanoparticles (NPs). The fluorescent NPs are further used for cellular imaging studies. The CPE-loaded Ag NCs with two bilayers exhibit excellent image contrast, superior to the control of CPE-silica NP at a similar uptake efficiency. The viability test indicates low cytotoxicity of the CPE-loaded Ag NCs, rendering them as promising cell imaging agents.
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Jing
J
Liang
Kai
K
Li
Gagik G
GG
Gurzadyan
Xianmao
X
Lu
Bin
B
Liu
D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D001692:Biological Transport; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003102:Colloids; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011073:Polyamines / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D014753:Vinyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
D052160:Benzothiazoles; D003102:Colloids; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012834:Silver; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; C576593:poly(9,9-bis(6'-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl)-fluorenyldivinylene-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) dibromide)