Tetraphenylethylene-Based Nanogels by Physical Encapsulation Technology: An AIEgen Transparent Film Thermometers

Abstract

AIEgens have attracted intensive interest because of the unusual fluorescence feature. Although AIEgen-based materials have been developed for responding to the diverse ex-stimuli, such as mechano-, electro-, and thermal-stimuli, the practical application of AIEgen-based thermoluminescence is hampered for the following reasons: (1) high cost attributed to the complicated chemical modification, (2) low contrast and responsiveness resulting from the chromophoric property of the thermal functional group. In this contribution, a facile encapsulation technology-based strategy without any chemical modifications is developed to form the encapsulated TPE nanogels for the preparation of the AIEgen-based thermoluminescence. Thanks to the coexistence of the liquid and solid phases, the nanogel-based AIEgens can not only attain the transparent feature but also a reversible transformation between the single-molecule and aggregated state by ex-thermal stimuli. In the nanogel, the two aggregated states of TPE molecules are observed that result from being tangled by poly-TPGDA and from being self-assembled, respectively. Furthermore, the nanogels prepared at different temperatures demonstrate the controllable fluorescence intensity. The higher preparation temperature results in more aggregated TPE and higher fluorescence intensity. Finally, the nanogels are easily formed into the transparent film thermometers because of their flowability, which shows a switchable and stable fluorescence by ex-thermal stimuli. The transparent film thermometer demonstrates high potential in anticounterfeiting technology and biological imaging.

Polyzwitterionic Nanogels for Controlled and Sustained Release of Bicarbonate Anions for Treatment of Metabolic Acidosis

“…Nanogels have also been designed to respond to various stimuli like temperature, pH, small molecules etc. in order to enhance the regulation of medications . Due to their electrostatic and ion exchange abilities, extreme hydrophilicity, and anti-fouling characteristics, PZNGs with equivalent positive and negative charges have drawn much interest as a substitute for delivering bicarbonates .…”

“…in order to enhance the regulation of medications. 18 Due to their electrostatic and ion exchange abilities, extreme hydrophilicity, and anti-fouling characteristics, PZNGs with equivalent positive and negative charges have drawn much interest as a substitute for delivering bicarbonates. 19 Such nanogels can accommodate nanomedicines with various functions and structural modifications since they are flexible in design and chemically versatile.…”