title: Multifaceted thermoresponsive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) coupled with carbon dots for biomedical applications.
abstract: A fluorescent thermoresponsive polymer consisting of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) coupled with carbon dots (CDs) (PVCL-CDs) was synthesized by reacting a carboxyl-terminated PVCL derivative with CDs via N-hydroxysuccinimide and N-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-N-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride coupling. The temperature-dependent fluorescence properties of this material were studied for biomedical applications. Fluorescence quenching in PVCL-CDs was observed above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) due to thermo-induced aggregation of the PVCL chains. This fluorescent thermoresponsive PVCL-CDs showed good biocompatibility and was demonstrated as a thermometer for sensing intracellular temperatures and also as a marker for bioimaging. In addition, PVCL-CDs showed a significant fluorescence turn-on response to proteins above the LCST, which allows for the utilization of this material in biosensors. Thus, PVCL-CDs, with its tuneable size, low cytotoxicity, good photostability, ease of bioconjugation, and resistance to metabolic degradation, is a novel material for biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Polymeric Nanomaterials Laboratory, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Thangavelu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kavitha
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Polymeric Nanomaterials Laboratory, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea; Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seungwook
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Pyo
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Polymeric Nanomaterials Laboratory, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Inn-Kyu
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Polymeric Nanomaterials Laboratory, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea. Electronic address: psy@knu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Soo-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D002209:Caprolactam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D005453:Fluorescence; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D062125:Thermometry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; C086861:poly-N-vinylcaprolactam; D002209:Caprolactam; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Bio-imaging; Biocompatibility; Carbon dot; Lower critical solution temperature; Thermo-responsive polymer