title: Self-assembled fluorescent organic nanoparticles for live-cell imaging.
abstract: Fluorescent, cell-permeable, organic nanoparticles based on self-assembled π-conjugated oligomers with high absorption cross-sections and high quantum yields have been developed. The nanoparticles are generated with a tuneable density of amino groups for charge-mediated cellular uptake by a straightforward self-assembly protocol, which allows for control over size and toxicity. The results show that a single amino group per ten oligomers is sufficient to achieve cellular uptake. The non-toxic nanoparticles are suitable for both one- and two-photon cellular imaging and flow cytometry, and undergo very efficient cellular uptake.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Functional Organic Materials and Devices and Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612 AZ Eindhoven (The Netherlands).
authors.forename: Irén
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Petkau-Milroy
authors.forename: Yvonne L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Dorland
authors.forename: Albertus P H J
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Schenning
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brunsveld
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000032:analysis; D002470:Cell Survival; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D061848:Optical Imaging
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes
keywords: cellular imaging; fluorescence; nanoparticles; self-assembly; supramolecular chemistry