Water-soluble fluorescent probes based on dendronized polyfluorenes for cell imaging.
Novel water-soluble dendronized fluorescent polyfluorenes (DFPFs) are prepared from hydrophilic monomers and hydrophobic comonomers. Incomplete energy transfer is found to result in a two-color emission of the DFPFs at around 410 and 650 nm. The incomplete energy transfer can be attributed to the poor compatibility between the fluorene and benzothiadiazole units. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) encapsulation of the DFPFs shows over 90% cell viability, indicating good biocompatibility. These DFPFs show differential cellular uptake. P1 with fewer PEO chains exhibits limited cellular membrane uptake and low brightness in cells. By contrast, P3 with more PEO chains is efficiently internalized by cells and accumulated in the cytoplasm. A strong fluorescence from whole cells is also observed.
College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
Libin
L
Bai
Wei
W
Li
Jingtian
J
Chen
Fuli
F
Bo
Baoxiang
B
Gao
Hongmei
H
Liu
Jingjing
J
Li
Yonggang
Y
Wu
Xinwu
X
Ba
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001692:Biological Transport; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004735:Energy Transfer; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D058105:Polymerization; D012995:Solubility; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014867:Water
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D050091:Dendrimers; D005449:Fluorenes; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols