Functionalized AIE nanoparticles with efficient deep-red emission, mitochondrial specificity, cancer cell selectivity and multiphoton susceptibility

Abstract

Mitochondria targeting biotinylated AIE nanoparticles are used as multiphoton imaging probes to identify cancer cells.

A Strategy of “Self‐Isolated Enhanced Emission” to Achieve Highly Emissive Dual‐State Emission for Organic Luminescent Materials

“…[9][10][11] However, it should be mentioned that, although most traditional OLMs with ap lanar andp olycyclic conjugated framework, such as 4,5-dibromofluorescein (DBF), can exhibit highly emissive features in the well-dissolved solution state, weako rt otally quenched emission usually occurs in aggregated solid states for the aggregation-causedq uenching (ACQ) effectd ue to the existence of strong intermolecular p-p stacking (Figure 1), [12] thus making it at ough goal to achievet he highly emissive dual-state emission (both the solution state and aggregated state) for OLMs. [13][14][15] According to the AIE nature in aggregated states, [16][17][18][19][20] AIEgens with intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) features could also be emissive in the solution state [21,22] and are thought to achievet he dual-state emissiona nd thus open an ew chapter in the exploration of OLMs in future applications.R ecently,o ur group also demonstratedt hat employing flexible alkyl chains in the conjugated molecules, such as ACQ fluorophores,c an effectively isolate their closely packed molecular backbones and thereby suppress the p-p stacking, finally leading to highly emissive lumi- Figure 1. [13][14][15] According to the AIE nature in aggregated states, [16][17][18][19][20] AIEgens with intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) features could also be emissive in the solution state [21,22] and are thought to achievet he dual-state emissiona nd thus open an ew chapter in the exploration of OLMs in future applications.R ecently,o ur group also demonstratedt hat employing flexible alkyl chains in the conjugated molecules, such as ACQ fluorophores,c an effectively isolate their closely packed molecular backbones and thereby suppress the p-p stacking, finally leading to highly emissive lumi- Figure 1.…”

“…To overcome the notoriousA CQ effect in OLMs, Tang et al proposedt he concept of "aggregation-induced emission'' (AIE) in 2001 and then developed tremendous AIE luminogens (AIEgens), which are usually non-or weakly emissive in dilute solution, buta re intensely emissive in the aggregated states ( Figure 1). [13][14][15] According to the AIE nature in aggregated states, [16][17][18][19][20] AIEgens with intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) features could also be emissive in the solution state [21,22] and are thought to achievet he dual-state emissiona nd thus open an ew chapter in the exploration of OLMs in future applications.R ecently,o ur group also demonstratedt hat employing flexible alkyl chains in the conjugated molecules, such as ACQ fluorophores,c an effectively isolate their closely packed molecular backbones and thereby suppress the p-p stacking, finally leading to highly emissive lumi- Figure 1. Schematic diagrams of chemical structuresf or typical OLMs (ACQ, AIE, and SIEE) and their corresponding emission photographs in THF solution or aggregated states (with aw ater fraction of 0, 50, and 99 %, respectively) and in solid state.…”

Tailoring the morphology of AIEgen fluorescent nanoparticles for optimal cellular uptake and imaging efficacy

“… 17 – 19 Over the past few decades various fluorescent materials have been developed, such as fluorescent proteins, 20 – 22 quantum dots, 23 , 24 carbon dots, 25 – 27 organic dyes, 28 – 30 and fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONPs). 18 , 31 – 37 Among these, FONPs remain relatively unexplored for biomedical application, which is mainly due to two limitations: (1) their inherent fluorescence quenching, 38 , 39 which is common for most organic fluorophores during their aggregation in aqueous media; and (2) their uncontrolled morphology and cellular behavior. 40 – 42 Fortunately, since the concept of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was originally reported by Tang et al , 43 a large number of new AIE materials 32 , 33 , 44 – 50 have been explored for their various applications.…”

The Synergistic Effect between Triphenylpyrrole Isomers as Donors, Linking Groups, and Acceptors on the Fluorescence Properties of D–π–A Compounds in the Solid State

“…The last one ranging from 260-310 nm, could be regarded as the electronic absorption band of the TPP moiety. [22,28] The B-based compounds, however,e xhibited two absorption bands because the absorption band corresponding to the localized p-p*t ransitionw as overlappedo rn ot obvious. The band around 340-630nmc orresponding to the ICT from donors to acceptors, whereas another band was attributed to the absorption of the TPP moiety ( Figure 2b).…”

“…To solve this problem, manyr esearchers combine these two kinds of donors in one compound. For example, ak ind of Dp-A molecule consisting of triphenylamine and tetraphenylethylenea saco-donor [22] was synthesized by Ta ng's group re-cently.I tturned out that theset wo donors exactly complemented each other in terms of functions. Therefore, it is essential to design ad onor with both strong electron-donatingc apabilityand highly twisted configuration.…”