Water-Soluble Fluorescent Nanobowls Constructed by Multiple Supramolecular Assembly

Abstract

Ordering and orientation of conjugated polymers (CPs) into well-defined supramolecular structures render the exploration of new properties of the assemblies. However, the fabrication of an asymmetric structure such as a bowl-shaped nanostructure by self-assembly from rigid CPs is still a major challenge because of their extremely rigid molecular backbones. Here, amphiphilic diblock copolymer [polystyrene-b-poly­(acrylic acid), PS-b-PAA] and small molecule (phenylboronic acid, PBA) were employed as additives into the CPs to guide the formation of fully water-soluble bowl-shaped vesicles driven by the synergy of π–π stacking interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen-bonding interactions between the three components. The size of the openings and interior holes of the nanobowls can be precisely controlled by varying the amount of PBA. This assembly strategy may open an avenue for the construction of a series of CP-based bowl-shaped vesicles. Furthermore, the water-soluble fluorescent nanobowls may act as a useful platform for drug delivery and chemical sensing applications.

Fabrication of Highly Fluorescent Temperature-Sensitive Composites Based on a Synergistic Molecular Mechanism between Hydrogen-Bonded/AIEgen-Modified Conjugated Polymers and Polymer Substrates

“…τ a of CPs in dilute solution is longer than that in the solid film (Table S2). The results are the same as those we reported earlier, 30 which indicates that a mass of aggregates is generated in the solid film.…”

Complex Photobleaching Behavior of Semiconducting Polymer Dots

“…The Strickler–Berg relationship may also apply, as it correlates an increase in radiative lifetime with a decrease in the absorption coefficient, ostensibly from a decrease in the average conjugation length of the CP segments. , In either case, the observed fluorescence lifetime was expected to increase as emitter sites with shorter conjugation lengths bleached more slowly than their counterparts with longer conjugation lengths. Prior studies have reported, for other CPs, shorter fluorescence lifetimes for both polymer chain lengths and aggregates that have longer emission wavelengths. , …”

“…Prior studies have reported, for other CPs, shorter fluorescence lifetimes for both polymer chain lengths and aggregates that have longer emission wavelengths. 55,56 In addition to the fluorescence lifetime data, there are two additional observations of interest. First, the multiexponential character of the fluorescence decay of the ensemble of CNMEHPPV Pdots decreased as the average lifetime increased over the illumination period.…”

Polymeric Bowl‐Shaped Nanoparticles: Hollow Structures with a Large Opening on the Surface

“…Amphiphilic polymers such as block copolymers, random copolymers, and homopolymers were developed to fabricate BNPs since then. [27][28][29][30][31] Besides, the swelling and freezing-drying strategy focusing on non-amphiphilic polymers was developed by Xia et al, [10] which was also an efficient method to prepare BNPs. Apart from the above mentioned approaches, emulsion polymerization and template-assisted methods also promote the rapid development of BNPs.…”