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Ziolek RM, Santana-Bonilla A, López-Ríos de Castro R, Kühn R, Green M, Lorenz CD. Conformational Heterogeneity and Interchain Percolation Revealed in an Amorphous Conjugated Polymer. ACS NANO 2022; 16:14432-14442. [PMID: 36103148 PMCID: PMC9527807 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c04794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Conjugated polymers are employed in a variety of application areas due to their bright fluorescence and strong biocompatibility. However, understanding the structure of amorphous conjugated polymers on the nanoscale is extremely challenging compared to their related crystalline phases. Using a bespoke classical force field, we study amorphous poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) with molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the role that its nanoscale structure plays in controlling its emergent (and all-important) optical properties. Notably, we show that a giant percolating cluster exists within amorphous F8BT, which has ramifications in understanding the nature of interchain species that drive the quantum yield reduction and bathochromic shift observed in conjugated polymer-based devices and nanostructures. We also show that distinct conformations can be unravelled from within the disordered structure of amorphous F8BT using a two-stage machine learning protocol, highlighting a link between molecular conformation and ring stacking propensity. This work provides predictive understanding by which to enhance the optical properties of next-generation conjugated polymer-based devices and materials by rational, simulation-led design principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M. Ziolek
- Biological
Physics and Soft Matter Group, Department of Physics, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
| | | | - Raquel López-Ríos de Castro
- Biological
Physics and Soft Matter Group, Department of Physics, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
- Department
of Chemistry, King’s College London, London, SE1 1DB, United Kingdom
| | - Reimer Kühn
- Department
of Mathematics, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Green
- Photonics
and Nanotechnology Group, Department of Physics, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, United
Kingdom
| | - Christian D. Lorenz
- Biological
Physics and Soft Matter Group, Department of Physics, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
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2
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Adhikari C. Polymer nanoparticles-preparations, applications and future insights: a concise review. POLYM-PLAST TECH MAT 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/25740881.2021.1939715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chandan Adhikari
- School of Basic Science and Humanities, Institute of Engineering & Management, Kolkata, India
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3
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Haehnle B, Jathavedan KK, Schuster PA, Karg M, Kuehne AJC. Elucidating the Nucleation Event in the C–C Cross-Coupling Step-Growth Dispersion Polymerization. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Haehnle
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Kiran Kaithakkal Jathavedan
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie I: Kolloide und Nanooptik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp A. Schuster
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Matthias Karg
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie I: Kolloide und Nanooptik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Alexander J. C. Kuehne
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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4
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Sun J, Zhang Q, Dai X, Ling P, Gao F. Engineering fluorescent semiconducting polymer nanoparticles for biological applications and beyond. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:1989-2004. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cc07182j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We summarize the recent advances in engineering approaches to obtain functionalized semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) for biological applications. The challenges and outlook of fabricating functionalized SPNs are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyong Sun
- Laboratory of Functionalized Molecular Solids
- Ministry of Education
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing
- Laboratory of Biosensing and Bioimaging (LOBAB)
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Laboratory of Functionalized Molecular Solids
- Ministry of Education
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing
- Laboratory of Biosensing and Bioimaging (LOBAB)
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science
| | - Xiaomei Dai
- Laboratory of Functionalized Molecular Solids
- Ministry of Education
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing
- Laboratory of Biosensing and Bioimaging (LOBAB)
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science
| | - Pinghua Ling
- Laboratory of Functionalized Molecular Solids
- Ministry of Education
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing
- Laboratory of Biosensing and Bioimaging (LOBAB)
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science
| | - Feng Gao
- Laboratory of Functionalized Molecular Solids
- Ministry of Education
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing
- Laboratory of Biosensing and Bioimaging (LOBAB)
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science
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5
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Schüller M, Meister A, Green M, Dailey LA. Investigating conjugated polymer nanoparticle formulations for lateral flow immunoassays. RSC Adv 2021; 11:29816-29825. [PMID: 35479543 PMCID: PMC9040913 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra05212h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Lateral flow immunoassays (LFI) are valuable tools for point-of-care testing. However, their sensitivity is limited and can be further improved. Nanoparticles (NP) of conjugated polymers (CPNs), also known as Pdots, are reported to be highly sensitive fluorescent probes, but a direct comparison with conventional colloidal gold-based (Au-NP) LFI using the same antibody–antigen pair is missing to date. Furthermore, the influence of brightness and Stokes shift of CPs on the signal : background ratio (SBR) needs to be evaluated. In this study, we encapsulated two different CPs, poly-(9,9-di-n-octyl-fluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PDOF) and poly-(2,5-di-hexyloxy-cyanoterephthalylidene) (CN-PPV) in silica shell-crosslinked Pluronic© micelles (Si-NP) and Pdots and investigated the NP brightness with respect to CP loading dose. The brightest formulation of each NP system was conjugated to rabbit IgG as a model antigen and the SBR was investigated in an ELISA-like microplate assay and LFI. Two reference particles, Au-NP and a polystyrene NP (PS-NP) loaded with a small-molecule fluorescent dye were conjugated to IgG and compared to the Si-NP and Pdots. The mass of Pdots required for detection in LFI was at least two orders of magnitude lower than that of Si-NP and the reference NP. The SBR of CN-PPV (moderate brightness, large Stokes shift) was two to three times higher than the SBR of PDOF (high brightness, small Stokes shift). To combine the favourable properties of both CPs, a polymer blend of PDOF and CN-PPV was encapsulated in Pdots, and resulted in further increase of SBR in the microplate assay and LFI. In summary, combining two CPs with different properties can lead to fluorescent signal-transducers for applications such as ELISA and LFIs, which can enhance the detection limit of the assay by 2–3 orders of magnitude. Conjugated polymer nanoparticles are sensitive signal transducers in lateral flow immunoassays.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Schüller
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Annette Meister
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Mark Green
- Department of Physics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Lea Ann Dailey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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6
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Enhanced optical imaging properties of lipid nanocapsules as vehicles for fluorescent conjugated polymers. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2020; 154:297-308. [PMID: 32707286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) have emerged as highly photostable probes for optical and photoacoustic imaging. However, the aggregation of conjugated polymer (CP) molecules upon nanoparticle formation is associated with fluorescence quenching, poor yields and mutable particle sizes. This study investigated whether the CP encapsulation within the liquid midchain triglyceride (MCT) core of lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) may achieve reduced packing of CP chains leading to a stable system with enhanced optical features. The red- and near infrared-emitting CPs, CN-PPV and PCPDTBT, showed precipitation and aggregation-induced quenching with concentrations >~25 µg/mL in MCT alone. Despite this, CP encapsulation within LNCs abolished quenching at concentrations up to 1500 µg/mL. PCPDTBT-LNCs exhibited a quantum yield of 2.8% and a higher signal:background ratio in an optical imaging phantom compared to literature reports of PCPDTBT encapsulated in PEG-PLGA nanoparticles. In contrast, PCPDTBT-LNCs had slightly lower photoacoustic amplitudes than reported PEG-PLGA systems. CP-LNCs were also stable in size (32 ± 0.7 nm) and photoluminescence over 21 days at 4 °C, 25 °C and 37 °C. In summary, encapsulation of CP within the liquid core of lipid nanocapsules enhances the optical properties of fluorescent CP.
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7
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Abelha TF, Dreiss CA, Green MA, Dailey LA. Conjugated polymers as nanoparticle probes for fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging. J Mater Chem B 2020; 8:592-606. [DOI: 10.1039/c9tb02582k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In this review, the role of conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) in emerging bioimaging techniques is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais Fedatto Abelha
- King's College London
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science
- London
- UK
- School of Pharmacy
| | - Cécile A. Dreiss
- King's College London
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science
- London
- UK
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8
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Neumann PR, Crossley DL, Turner M, Ingleson M, Green M, Rao J, Dailey LA. In Vivo Optical Performance of a New Class of Near-Infrared-Emitting Conjugated Polymers: Borylated PF8-BT. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:46525-46535. [PMID: 31746180 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b17022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Borylated poly(fluorene-benzothiadiazoles) (PF8-BT) are π-conjugated polymers (CPs) with deep-red/near-infrared (NIR) absorption and emission profiles suitable for in vivo optical imaging. A fully borylated PF8-BT derivative (P4) was encapsulated in pegylated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PEG-PLGA) nanoparticles and compared with a reference NIR-emitting CP (PCPDTBT) or indocyanine green (ICG). All formulations satisfied quality requirements for parenterally administered diagnostics. P4 nanoparticles had higher quantum yield (2.3%) than PCPCDTBT (0.01%) or ICG nanoparticles (1.1%). The signal/background ratios (SBRs) of CP systems P4 and PCPDTBT in a phantom mouse (λem = 820 nm) increased linearly with fluorophore mass (12.5-100 μg/mL), while the SBRs of ICG decreased above 25 μg/mL. P4 nanoparticles experienced <10% photobleaching over 10 irradiations (PCPDTBT: ∼25% and ICG: >44%). In a mouse tumor xenograft model, P4 nanoparticles showed a 5-fold higher SBR than PCPDTBT particles with fluorophore accumulation in the liver > spleen > tumor. Blood chemistry and tissue histology showed no abnormalities compared to untreated animals after a single administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Robert Neumann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics , Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg , Halle/Saale 06120 , Germany
| | - Daniel L Crossley
- Department of Chemical Sciences , University of Huddersfield , Huddersfield HD1 3DH , U.K
| | - Michael Turner
- School of Chemistry , University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9PL , U.K
| | - Michael Ingleson
- School of Chemistry , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh EH9 3FJ , U.K
| | - Mark Green
- Department of Physics , King's College London , London WC2R 2LS , U.K
| | - Jianghong Rao
- Department of Radiology and Chemistry , Stanford University , Stanford , California 94305 , United States
| | - Lea Ann Dailey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics , Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg , Halle/Saale 06120 , Germany
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9
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Kemal E, Peters R, Bourke S, Fairclough S, Bergstrom-Mann P, Owen DM, Sandiford L, Dailey LA, Green M. Magnetic conjugated polymer nanoparticles doped with a europium complex for biomedical imaging. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2018; 17:718-721. [DOI: 10.1039/c7pp00402h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembling conjugated polymer nanoparticles containing PVK and PLGA-PEG as a matrix polymer were doped with both a luminescent rare-earth complex and magnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs), giving rise to materials that are both luminescent and magnetic.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Kemal
- Department of Physics
- King's College London
- Strand
- London
- UK
| | - R. Peters
- Department of Physics
- King's College London
- Strand
- London
- UK
| | - S. Bourke
- Department of Physics
- King's College London
- Strand
- London
- UK
| | - S. Fairclough
- Department of Physics
- King's College London
- Strand
- London
- UK
| | | | - D. M. Owen
- Department of Physics
- King's College London
- Strand
- London
- UK
| | - L. Sandiford
- Department of Physics
- King's College London
- Strand
- London
- UK
| | - L. A. Dailey
- Department of Pharmacy
- Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
- 06120 Halle (Saale)
- Germany
| | - M. Green
- Department of Physics
- King's College London
- Strand
- London
- UK
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10
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Kuehne AJC. Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles toward In Vivo Theranostics - Focus on Targeting, Imaging, Therapy, and the Importance of Clearance. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 1:e1700100. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201700100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. C. Kuehne
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials; RWTH Aachen University; Forckenbeckstraße 50 52076 Aachen Germany
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11
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Przylucka A, Akcapinar GB, Chenthamara K, Cai F, Grujic M, Karpenko J, Livoi M, Shen Q, Kubicek CP, Druzhinina IS. HFB7 - A novel orphan hydrophobin of the Harzianum and Virens clades of Trichoderma, is involved in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Fungal Genet Biol 2017; 102:63-76. [PMID: 28089933 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2017.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Hydrophobins are small secreted cysteine-rich proteins exclusively found in fungi. They are able to self-assemble in single molecular layers at hydrophobic-hydrophilic interfaces and can therefore be directly involved in establishment of fungi in their habitat. The genomes of filamentous mycotrophic fungi Trichoderma encode a rich diversity of hydrophobins, which are divided in several groups based on their structure and evolution. Here we describe a new member of class II hydrophobins, HFB7, that has a taxonomically restricted occurrence in Harzianum and Virens clades of Trichoderma. Evolutionary analysis reveals that HFB7 proteins form a separate clade distinct from other Trichoderma class II hydrophobins and that genes encoding them evolve under positive selection pressure. Homology modelling of HFB7 structure in comparison to T. reesei HFB2 reveals that the two large hydrophobic patches on the surface of the protein are remarkably conserved between the two hydrophobins despite significant difference in their primary structures. Expression of hfb7 gene in T. virens increases at interactions with other fungi and a plant and in response to a diversity of abiotic stress conditions, and is also upregulated during formation of aerial mycelium in a standing liquid culture. This upregulation significantly exceeds that of expression of hfb7 under a strong constitutive promoter, and T. virens strains overexpressing hfb7 thus display only changes in traits characterized by low hfb7 expression, i.e. faster growth in submerged liquid culture. The hfb7 gene is not expressed in conidia. Our data allow to conclude that this protein is involved in defence of Trichoderma against a diversity of stress factors related to the oxidative stress. Moreover, HFB7 likely helps in the establishment of the fungus in wetlands or other conditions related to high humidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Przylucka
- Microbiology Group, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | - Gunseli Bayram Akcapinar
- Microbiology Group, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Komal Chenthamara
- Microbiology Group, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Feng Cai
- Jiangsu Key Lab for Organic Waste Utilization and National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Marica Grujic
- Microbiology Group, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Juriy Karpenko
- Microbiology Group, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Miriam Livoi
- Microbiology Group, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | - Qirong Shen
- Jiangsu Key Lab for Organic Waste Utilization and National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Christian P Kubicek
- Microbiology Group, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irina S Druzhinina
- Microbiology Group, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical and Biological Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria.
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