A Conformational Tweak for Enhanced Cellular Internalization, Photobleaching Resistance and Prolonged Imaging Efficacy

Abstract

A potential strategy of conformational tweak has been developed that regulates the condensed state properties in naphthalimide skeletal isomers (NSIs) and controls the cellular uptake and prolonged imaging capability. It was observed that with identical aromatic cores and electronic properties at the molecular level, fine-tuning of condensed state photophysical and supramolecular self-assembly properties were seen in these luminogenic NSIs owing to their molecular conformation energized distinct intermolecular packing orientations and even without adding any secondary components. With characteristics such as large stokes-shift, not observed in single skeletal isomers previously, this strategy boosts rapid cellular internalization¸ photobleaching resistance, and long-term imaging ability in the ribbons-like nano-assembly to that of its electronically similar micro-flower counterpart. This study presents that a conformational tweaking strategy can provide a clear outlook for designing new generation nanodrugs with clear understanding of associated molecular events for wide biomedical and theranostic applications.