title: Polyfluorene nanoparticles coated with folate-functionalized triblock copolymer: effective agents for targeted cell imaging.
abstract: An ultra-bright fluorescence probe comprising conjugated polymer nanoparticles is developed for biological imaging. Highly blue fluorescent polyfluorene nanoparticles (PF-NPs) stabilized by sodium dodecylsulfate with an average diameter of 100 nm are prepared by a miniemulsion technique. A folate-conjugated cationic triblock copolymer is employed to coat negatively charged PF-NPs via electrostatic interaction for specific cell imaging of folate receptor over-expressing cancer cells. The coated PF-NPs show a similar size and morphology to the pristine PF-NPs, while the fluorescence intensity is enhanced. Such surface-functionalized PF-NPs are demonstrated to be suitable probes for efficient cell imaging of folate receptor over-expressing KB cells by CLSM and flow cytometry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmacy, Philipps-University Marburg, Ketzerbach 63, 35032 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Abhijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patra
authors.forename: Ullrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Scherf
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kissel
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004655:Emulsions; D004705:Endocytosis; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored / Q000378:metabolism; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007624:KB Cells; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015335:Molecular Probes; D058726:Nanoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry; D058105:Polymerization; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D005449:Fluorenes; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; D015335:Molecular Probes; D058726:Nanoconjugates; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D005492:Folic Acid