title: Facile synthesis of fluorescent polymer nanoparticles by covalent modification-nanoprecipitation of amine-reactive ester polymers.
abstract: Emission wavelength control in fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) is crucial for their applications. In the case of inorganic quantum dots or dye-impregnated silica NPs, such a control is readily achieved by changing the size of the particles or choosing appropriate fluorescent dyes, respectively. A similar modular approach for controlling the emission wavelength of fluo-rescent polymer NPs, however, is difficult. This article reports on fluorescent polymer NPs, the synthesis of which provides a platform for a modular approach towards the preparation of fluorescent NPs of desired emission wavelength. Atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is employed to synthesize reactive ester polymers, which are then easily modified with a commercially available dye and subsequently subjected to nanoprecipitation. The resulting NPs, with low size polydispersity, show an enhanced emission quantum yield when compared with the same dye molecules in solution.
authors.affiliation: The National Creative Research Initiative Center for Intelligent Hybrids, The WCU Program of Chemical Convergence for Energy and Environment, School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeonju
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Sadaf
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanif
authors.affiliation: Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Theato
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zentel
authors.affiliation: The National Creative Research Initiative Center for Intelligent Hybrids, The WCU Program of Chemical Convergence for Energy and Environment, School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeewoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: The National Creative Research Initiative Center for Intelligent Hybrids, The WCU Program of Chemical Convergence for Energy and Environment, School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Kookheon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Char
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry*; D004952:Esters; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D004952:Esters; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011108:Polymers
keywords: atom-transfer radical polymerization; fluorescent nanoparticles; pentafluorophenyl methacrylate; polymer nanoparticles