Fluorescent Polymersomes with Aggregation-Induced Emission

Abstract

Fluorescent polymersomes are interesting systems for cell/tissue imaging and in vivo study of drug distribution and delivery. We report on bright fluorescent polymersomes with aggregation-induced emission self-assembled by a series of tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-containing amphiphilic biodegradable block copolymers, where the hydrophilic block is a polyethylene glycol and hydrophobic block is a TPE-substituted trimethylenecarbonate polymer P(TPE-TMC). Their self-assemblies in water were prepared by nanoprecipitation using dioxane or tetrahydrofuran as co-solvent, and the self-assembling processes were studied in detail by cryo-electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and spectrofluorometer. The polymersomes are formed via the closure of bilayer lamellae self-assembled first by amphiphilic block copolymers. The polymersome membrane affords a nanosize bright fluorescent system with self-assembly induced emission in the thickness scale of 10-15 nm. The control of the whole size of polymersome is achieved by the choice of co-solvent for self-assembling and by the design of a suitable hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio of block copolymers. These polymersomes can be potentially used as a stable fluorescent tool to monitor the transportation and distribution of drugs and bioconjugates in living cells.

Development of Ester Free Type Poly(trimethylene carbonate) Derivatives with Pendant Fluoroaromatic Groups

“…In order to vary the polymer materials, the synthesis of TMC derivatives as monomers are important for the functionalization of PTMC derivatives, and thus synthesis methods have been developed for the functionalization of TMC as well as the biodegradability and biocompatibility. Actually, many potential applications have been reported for PTMC derivatives, such as fluorescent tools to monitor the transportation in living cells, DNA delivery systems for gene therapy, surface modification by polymer coating on a substrate, and self‐assembled polymeric nanoparticles …”

CO2‐Activated Reversible Transition between Polymersomes and Micelles with AIE Fluorescence

“…AIE polymersomes could be good candidates for cell/tissue imaging and in vivo study of drug distribution and delivery with the advantage of higher contrast and higher photo‐physical stability compared to polymersomes conjugated or loaded with conventional organic dyes showing aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ). Recently, our group has reported AIE polymersomes made of TPE‐substituted biodegradable poly(trimethylene carbonate) . However, these AIE polymersomes are not stimuli‐responsive.…”

Ferro-Self-Assembly: Magnetic and Electrochemical Adaptation of a Multiresponsive Zwitterionic Metalloamphiphile Showing a Shape-Hysteresis Effect

“…55 Quaternization with 1,3propanesultone finally yielded 1-(Z)-heptenyl-1'-dimethylammoniummethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ferrocene (FcNMe2SO3Heptene, 6). 56 FcNMe2SO3Heptene (6) was characterized by several analytical techniques including 1 H and 13 C{ 1 H} NMR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS), IR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Fig.…”