title: Highly Efficient Supramolecular Aggregation-Induced Emission-Active Pseudorotaxane Luminogen for Functional Bioimaging.
abstract: The direct tracking of cells using fluorescent dyes is a constant challenge in cell therapy due to aggregation-induced quenching (ACQ) effect and biocompatibility issues. Here, we demonstrate the development of a biocompatible and highly efficient aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active pseudorotaxane luminogen based on tetraphenylethene conjugated poly(ethylene glycol) (TPE-PEG2) (guest) and α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) (host). It is capable of showing significant fluorescent emission enhancement at the 400-600 nm range when excited at 388 nm, without increasing the concentration of AIE compound. The fluorescent intensity of TPE-PEG2solution was effectively enhanced by 4-12 times with gradual addition of 1-4 mM of α-CD. 2D NOSEY1H NMR revealed clear correlation spots between the characteristic peaks of α-CD and PEG, indicating the interaction between protons of ethylene glycol and cyclodextrin, and the structures are mainly based on threaded α-CD. The host-guest complex exhibits boosted fluorescent emission because the PEG side chains are confined in "nano-cavities" (host), thus, applying additional restriction on intermolecular rotation of TPE segments. In vitro cell experiments demonstrated the potential of AIE-active pseudorotaxane polymer as a biocompatible bioimaging probe.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03 Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore.
authors.forename: Sing Shy
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Liow
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03 Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03 Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore.
authors.forename: Sigit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugiarto
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03 Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore.
authors.forename: Shifeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University , Experimental Medicine Building, Singapore 636921, Singapore.
authors.forename: Madhavi Latha S
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chalasani
authors.affiliation: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University , Experimental Medicine Building, Singapore 636921, Singapore.|Singapore Eye Research Institute, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, The Academia, 20 College Road, Singapore 168751, Singapore.
authors.forename: Navin Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03 Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jianwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03 Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore.|Singapore Eye Research Institute, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, The Academia, 20 College Road, Singapore 168751, Singapore.|Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore , 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
authors.forename: Xian Jun
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8118-6502
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Loh
mesh_terms: D000072283:A549 Cells; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008823:Micelles; D061848:Optical Imaging; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers; D043862:Rotaxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; D043862:Rotaxanes; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C032613:alpha-cyclodextrin