Large Stokes-shifted NIR-emission from nanospace-induced aggregation of perylenemonoimide-doped polymer nanoparticles: imaging of folate receptor expression.

Abstract

The development of a water-soluble, perylenemonoimide (PMI) dye-doped polymer nanoparticle (PNP) with NIR emission for live-cell imaging is demonstrated. The large Stokes-shifted NIR emission is due to confined nanospace-induced aggregation offered by the polymer matrix. Later, folic acid functionalised PNP (PNP-FA) is successfully employed to differentiate folate receptor positive and negative cancer cells.