Self-catalyzed photo-initiated RAFT polymerization for fabrication of fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles with aggregation-induced emission feature

Controlling Molecular Aggregation-Induced Emission by Controlled Polymerization

In last twenty years, the significant development of AIE materials has been witnessed. A number of small molecules, polymers and composites with AIE activity have been synthesized, with some of these exhibiting great potential in optoelectronics and biomedical applications. Compared to AIE small molecules, macromolecular systems-especially well-defined AIE polymers-have been studied relatively less. Controlled polymerization methods provide the efficient synthesis of well-defined AIE polymers with varied monomers, tunable chain lengths and narrow dispersity. In particular, the preparation of single-fluorophore polymers through AIE molecule-initiated polymerization enables the systematic investigation of the structure-property relationships of AIE polymeric systems. Here, the main polymerization techniques involved in these polymers are summarized and the key parameters that affect their photophysical properties are analyzed. The author endeavored to collect meaningful information from the descriptions of AIE polymer systems in the literature, to find connections by comparing different representative examples, and hopes eventually to provide a set of general guidelines for AIE polymer design, along with personal perspectives on the direction of future research.

Organic–inorganic nanohybrids based on an AIE luminogen-functional polymer and CdTe/ZnS QDs: morphologies, optical properties, and applications

Dual-emissive organic–inorganic nanohybrid self-assemblies were constructed by binding red-emitting CdTe/ZnS QDs to blue-emitting AIE-active polymeric micelles in water as a fluorescent probe for PA with interesting assembly behaviour.

Visualization of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization by Aggregation-Induced Emission Technology

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) technology has been demonstrated to be a facile approach for in-situ monitoring atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A series of tertraphenyl ethylene (TPE)-containing α-bromo compounds were synthesized and applied as ATRP initiators. The photoluminescent (PL) emission of the polymerization system is proved to be sensitive to the local viscosity owing to the AIE characteristics of TPE. Linear relationships between the resulting molecular weight M_n and PL intensity were observed in several polymerization systems with different monomers, indicating the variability of this technique. Compared to physical blending, the chemical bonding of the TPE group in the chain end has higher sensitivity and accuracy to the polymer segments and the surrounding environment. This work promoted the combination of the AIE technique and controlled living radical polymerization, and introduced such an optical research platform to the ATRP polymerization process.

An acrylate AIE-active dye with a two-photon fluorescent switch for fluorescent nanoparticles by RAFT polymerization: synthesis, molecular structure and application in cell imaging

This work reported the synthesis of a novel acrylate AIE-active dye with a reversible two-photon fluorescent switch and its amphiphilic PEG-TM polymers via RAFT polymerization, which are attractive for applications in cell imaging.

Application of amphiphilic fluorophore-derived nanoparticles to provide contrast to human embryonic stem cells without affecting their pluripotency and to monitor their differentiation into neuron-like cells

Fluorogenic labeling is a potential technique in biology that allows for direct detection and tracking of cells undergoing various biological processes. Compared to traditional genetic modification approaches, labeling cells with nanoparticles has advantages, especially for the additional safety they provide by avoiding genomic integration. However, it remains a challenge to determine whether nanoparticles interfere with cell traits and provide long-lasting signals in living cells. We employed an amphiphilic fluorophore-derived nanoparticle (denoted by TPE-11) bearing a tetraphenylethene (TPE) moiety and two ionic heads; this nanoparticle has an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect and the ability to self-assemble. TPE-11 exhibited the property of higher or longer fluorescence intensities in cell imaging than the other two nanomaterials under the same conditions. We used this nanomaterial to label human embryonic stem (hES) cells and monitor their differentiation. Treatment with low concentrations of TPE-11 (8.0 μg/mL) resulted in high-intensity labeling of hES cells, and immunostaining analysis and teratoma formation assays showed that at this concentration, their pluripotency remained unaltered. TPE-11 nanoparticles allowed for long-term monitoring of hES cell differentiation into neuron-like cells; remarkably, strong nanoparticle signals were detected throughout the nearly 40-day differentiation process. Thus, these results demonstrate that the TPE-11 nanoparticle has excellent biocompatibility for hES cells and is a potential fluorogen for labeling and tracking the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

This study uses a nanoparticle-based approach to label human embryonic stem (hES) cells and monitor their differentiation. hES cells are distinguished by two distinctive properties: the state of their pluripotency and the potential to differentiate into various cell types. Thus, these cells will be useful as a source of cells for transplantation or tissue engineering applications. We noticed the effect of aggregation-induced emission, and the ability to self-assemble could enhance the persistence of signals. Treatment with low concentrations of TPE-11 nanoparticles showed high-intensity labeling of hES cells, and immunostaining analysis and teratoma formation assays showed that at this concentration, their pluripotency remained unaltered. Additionally, these nanoparticles allowed for long-term monitoring of hES cell differentiation into neuron-like cells lasting for 40 days.

In Situ Monitoring of RAFT Polymerization by Tetraphenylethylene-Containing Agents with Aggregation-Induced Emission Characteristics

A facile and efficient approach is demonstrated to visualize the polymerization in situ. A group of tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-containing dithiocarbamates were synthesized and screened as agents for reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations. The spatial-temporal control characteristics of photochemistry enabled the RAFT polymerizations to be ON and OFF on demand under alternating visible light irradiation. The emission of TPE is sensitive to the local viscosity change owing to its aggregation-induced emission characteristic. Quantitative information could be easily acquired by the naked eye without destroying the reaction system. Furthermore, the versatility of such a technique was well demonstrated by 12 different polymerization systems. The present approach thus demonstrated a powerful platform for understanding the controlled living radical polymerization process.

Recent Advances in RAFT Polymerization: Novel Initiation Mechanisms and Optoelectronic Applications

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) is considered to be one of most famous reversible deactivation radical polymerization protocols. Benefiting from its living or controlled polymerization process, complex polymeric architectures with controlled molecular weight, low dispersity, as well as various functionality have been constructed, which could be applied in wide fields, including materials, biology, and electrology. Under the continuous research improvement, main achievements have focused on the development of new RAFT techniques, containing fancy initiation methods (e.g., photo, metal, enzyme, redox and acid), sulfur-free RAFT system and their applications in many fields. This review summarizes the current advances in major bright spot of novel RAFT techniques as well as their potential applications in the optoelectronic field, especially in the past a few years.